If you’ve lost your vision due to wet age-related macular degeneration or wet AMD, it’s normal to want to do everything you can to preserve your vision for as long as possible. If you’ve heard that vitamins can help, you may be ready to dive into the wide world of supplements.
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But not so fast, says ophthalmologist Dr. Ananth Sastry. Some vitamins may help slow the progression of AMD in people with certain types of the disease, but they don’t work for everyone. Before you start taking vitamins for eye health, it’s important to understand what vitamins can and cannot do.
Do vitamins help AMD?
Two large studies on age-related eye diseases (both sponsored by the National Eye Institute) have found that a particular vitamin and mineral combination known as AREDS2 may slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration in some people. It turns out that it can help slow down the. These supplements contain higher concentrations of certain micronutrients than you can get from your diet or regular multivitamins.
However, there is a big caveat. AREDS2 supplements may not help everyone with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). These supplements primarily help people with mid-stage dry macular degeneration, rather than wet AMD.
“AREDS2 has not been shown to have a significant effect on eyes with wet macular degeneration or very advanced dry macular degeneration,” Dr. Sastry clarified. “There is also not enough evidence to show that taking the AREDS2 vitamin prevents the development of macular degeneration in patients who do not already have the disease.”
Wet AMD is an advanced condition that can be managed and treated, but cannot be cured. Your eye doctor may offer options such as anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections. This may help preserve your remaining vision and prevent wet AMD from worsening.
Which vitamins can help moisten AMD?
Although there is no cure for wet AMD, it is still important to practice habits that promote eye health if you are living with this serious eye disease. It includes eating a healthy, balanced diet rich in vitamins and nutrients known to protect the eyes.
Additionally, although the AREDS2 vitamin has not been shown to affect wet AMD, your eye doctor may prescribe the vitamin if your symptoms are not progressing at the same rate in both eyes. For example, if you only have intermediate dry AMD in one eye, you may start taking AREDS2 to prevent it from getting worse.
“The AREDS2 vitamin is recommended for people who have early or intermediate dry macular degeneration in one eye and advanced disease in the other eye,” explains Dr. Sastry. “Additionally, dry macular degeneration can transition to wet macular degeneration at any time.”
Let’s take a look at the specific vitamins found in AREDS2 and how they benefit eye health.
Lutein and Zeaxanthin
Never heard of lutein and zeaxanthin? Most Americans don’t get enough of them through diet alone, but they play an important role in eye health. In fact, its role is so great that it is sometimes known as the “eye vitamin.”
Lutein and zeaxanthin are both carotenoids, pigment nutrients that give plants their bright colors. “They are also present in high concentrations in the retina, where they protect against oxidative stress and help the eye block harmful blue light,” Dr. Sastry says.
AREDS2 supplement contains 10 milligrams (mg) of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin.
vitamins C and E
Vitamin C and vitamin E are both powerful antioxidants that can help your body fight unstable molecules known as free radicals. Free radicals are known to cause oxidative stress in the body if left unchecked, which can cause disease and contribute to macular degeneration.
AREDS2 supplement contains 500 mg of vitamin C and 400 international units (IU) of vitamin E.
zinc
Zinc is a trace mineral, meaning we only need it in small amounts, but it has a huge impact on eye health. It all has to do with how the body stores and uses vitamin A.
“The eyes need vitamin A to produce certain pigments, to be able to see in the dark, and to maintain healthy corneas,” explains Dr. Sastry. However, in the body, vitamin A is stored in the liver rather than the eyes, so zinc acts as a taxi driver, helping move vitamin A from the liver to the retina.
AREDS2 supplement contains 80 mg of zinc.
copper
Copper is also a trace mineral, but it is not necessarily related to eye health. So why is it included in AREDS2? Zinc can affect the body’s ability to absorb copper, so adding extra zinc to your diet, such as through supplements, can actually reduce copper deficiency. may cause. This increases the risk of diseases such as anemia, leukopenia, and osteoporosis.
“To help prevent copper deficiency, the AREDS2 supplement contains 2 mg of copper,” says Dr. Sastry. “Enough to give your body a little more energy.”
What about fish oil?
Omega-3 fatty acids are also good for eye health. However, the same study that developed AREDS2 found that incorporating omega-3 fatty acids (such as those found in fish oil tablets) into the AREDS2 supplement combination had no additional benefit. It’s also better to get your omega-3s from food, as food sources have been shown to have greater health benefits than supplements.
Eye care for wet AMD
If you have macular degeneration, whether wet or dry, you should not rely on nutrition alone to manage your condition or prevent it from worsening. Such serious eye diseases require treatment by a specialist.
“If vision loss is not treated immediately, it may be irreversible,” warns Dr. Sastry. “It is also important to know that dry macular degeneration can progress to wet macular degeneration at any time.
“If you have dry AMD and notice new blind spots or center distortion that you didn’t notice before, seek urgent treatment from a retinal specialist.”
