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A 10-year National Eye Institute
sponsored study, AREDS (Age Related Eye Disease
Study), released in 2001, has shown that a specific
formulation of antioxidant vitamins and zinc may
reduce the impact of AMD. AREDS showed that for people
with intermediate or advanced AMD, the risk of vision
loss was reduced by 25% when treated with a high
dose formulation of vitamins A, C, and E, beta carotene,
and zinc.
The specific amounts of antioxidants and
minerals used in AREDS are available in a vitamin
tablet known as “Preservision AREDS Soft
Gels,” produced by Bausch & Lomb.
Recommended
by Eyesight and available over-the-counter, the
dose of Preservision AREDS Soft Gels is one soft
gel at breakfast and one at supper.
Because alternative
formulations of antioxidants and minerals were
not tested in AREDS, the efficacy of such preparations
has not been tested by the National Eye Institute.
The only exception to this is our recommendation
for smokers (including those who have quit smoking
in the past five years.) Since it has been shown
that the supplemental use of beta-carotene in smokers
increases their risk of lung cancer, we recommend
the use of “Preservision Lutein Soft
Gels” by Bausch & Lomb. This formulation
contains no beta-carotene.
Even though there are
no conclusive statements that can be made regarding
the additional use of lutein in the diet of
patients with macular degeneration, some studies
have suggested a link between lutein and decreased
risk of eye disease.
Our recommended dose of lutein
is 8mg of lutein per day, taken at lunchtime.
The rationale for taking lutein at lunch is to avoid
competitive absorption between lutein and components
of Preservision AREDS. If you are a smoker taking
Preservision Lutein, you need not take supplemental
lutein. Both Preservision AREDS and Preservision
Lutein are available without a prescription, over-the-counter
at local drug stores, supermarkets, and health
food stores. You may hear or read of other herbal
or vitamin supplements for ocular health. We advise
avoidance of these, as there is very little good
science which proves they are useful, and in fact,
there are known, dangerously serious, and sometimes
irreversible ocular complications from the use and/or
abuse of these supplements.
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