In a recent analysis conducted by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), it has been found that daily antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements can slow the progression of late-stage dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The study, published in Ophthalmology, reviewed retinal scans from participants in the Age-Related Eye Diseases Studies (AREDS and AREDS2). The results showed that for patients with late-stage dry AMD, these supplements slowed the expansion of geographic atrophy regions toward the central foveal region of the retina by approximately 55% over an average of three years. While the supplements had limited benefit for those with geographic atrophy already affecting the central vision, they significantly slowed the disease’s progression in other cases. This reinforces the importance of continued use of AREDS2 supplements for managing late-stage dry AMD, offering a potential strategy for preserving central vision amidst few other therapeutic options.
Source: https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0161642024004251
