The National Eye Institute, an arm of the government-supported National Institutes of Health, coordinated the Age-Related Eye Disease Study, which followed the link between eye health and vitamin supplements for 4,700 patients over five years. The results of this study were first published in the October 2001 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology and are also available on-line at http://www.nei.nih.gov/neitrials/viewStudyWeb.aspx?id=44.

Researchers found that patients who are at a high risk of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) could lower their risk by about 25% when they were treated with high-dose combinations of vitamin C (500 mg), vitamin E (400 international units), beta-carotene (15 mg), zinc (80 mg) and copper (2 mg). The study also showed that people who have diets rich in green, leafy vegetables have a lower incidence of developing AMD.

This was the first study to show that vitamins can be an effective treatment in delaying the progression of AMD in people with intermediate or advanced disease. This approach is not a cure for AMD, nor will it restore sight already lost due to AMD. In addition, the study did not suggest any apparent benefits for patients who had no AMD or early-stage AMD, although we still recommend a multi-vitamin supplement for patients with early-stage AMD.

Within a few months of this study’s publication, many of the major pharmaceutical companies began selling vitamins consistent with the formulations used in this study. Widely-available brands include Bausch & Lomb’s OcuVite line and Alcon’s ICaps vitamins. The AREDS researchers noted that this vitamin regimen is not recommended for all patients; for example, beta-carotene has been shown to increase the risk of lung cancer among smokers. Consequently, each manufacturer makes several variations of the AREDS formulation, so you should consult with your ophthalmologist or optometrist before beginning this therapy. For more information on the vitamin therapy, visit the National Eye Institute’s website at http://www.nei.nih.gov/amd/summary.asp#7