Macular degeneration is a devastating eye disease that can lead to severe loss of vision, including blindness. This condition commonly affects older adults, and treatment does not typically restore vision. Certain nutrients could help prevent this condition, and some vitamin manufacturers create formulas designed for prevention. Some eye formulations, such as Paul Harvey's Ocular Nutrition, once claimed to have an immediate effect, but you should talk with your doctor about your condition before expecting such results.
Claims
Radio personality Paul Harvey helped promote the use of Ocular Nutrition to improve vision and other eye conditions, such as floaters. The initial ads reported users having immediate relief from floaters in vision and "dark areas" in vision, a sign of macular degeneration. Nutrients will not reverse floaters or vision loss from these conditions, and as a result of these ads, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission fined Hi-Health, the seller of Ocular Nutrition. Hi-Health continues to sell the vitamin, but the ads differ, no longer touting the vitamin as a miracle cure for eye ailments.
Research
In a 2001 study, referred to as the AREDS study, the National Eye Institute determined that certain nutrients might reduce the risk of advanced macular degeneration by around 25 percent. These findings recommend high doses of zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E, along with a dose of copper to prevent copper deficiency associated with high zinc intakes.
The recommended dosage includes a dose of 25,000 International Units, or IU, of vitamin A and 500 mg of vitamin C. You should also take 400 IU of vitamin E and an 80 mg dose of zinc, along with 2 mg of copper.
Contents
The Ocular Nutrition vitamins contain a variety of nutrients, including the beneficial nutrients in the AREDS study. The Ocular Nutrition formulation contains higher doses of some of these nutrients than the recommendations in the study, so you should talk with your doctor about the effects of the doses particular to the Ocular Nutrition formulation.
Considerations
If you have macular degeneration or have a risk for the disease or any other eye condition, talk with your doctor about the benefits of Ocular Nutrition and other vitamin formulations before beginning a supplement regimen. You might require treatment in addition to supplements, and your doctor can evaluate your condition and help you determine the best approach.
References
- Hi-Health: Optim 3 Premier Formula for Ocular Nutrition
- Federal Trade Commission: Seller of "Ocular Nutrition" Dietary Supplement That Purports to Treat Eye Diseases Settles FTC Charges and Pays $450,000
- Federal Trade Commission: Hi-Health Supermart Corporation Complaint
- National Eye Institute: The AREDS Formulation and Age-Related Macular Degeneration
- American Optometric Association: Diet and Nutrition
