Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in people older than 50, according to the National Eye Institute (NEI). The chances of developing wet AMD if you have dry AMD are around 10 percent. A study of more than 3,500 people conducted by the NEI, a branch of the National Institutes of Health, found that large doses of a combination of antioxidants and zinc reduce the risk of developing wet AMD by 25 percent.
AREDs Formula
The vitamins currently marketed for prevention of wet AMD are known as the Age-related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) formula. AREDs vitamins will not treat wet macular degeneration, but if you have one eye that's now wet and the other is still dry, taking AREDs vitamins might help the dry eye.
The standard AREDs formula contains 500mg of vitamin C; 400IU of vitamin E; 15mg of beta-carotene (equivalent to 25,000IU of vitamin A); 80mg of zinc; and 2mg of copper, which was added to the AREDS formula because high levels of zinc can cause copper deficiency.
Because there's evidence that large quantities of beta carotene, or vitamin A, can increase the chances of lung cancer in smokers, a different formula not containing beta carotene is made for current smokers or people who have smoked in the last 5-10 years.
Who Should Take AREDs
People who should take AREDs vitamins are those who already have intermediate dry macular degeneration in one or both eyes, and those who have wet AMD in one eye but not the other, according to the NEI. The study didn't show a benefit if AREDs vitamins were taken by people with early dry AMD.
Side Effects
Any supplement can have side effects. Side effects of AREDS include yellowing of the skin from beta carotene, and a slight increase in urinary tract, kidney and prostate problems.
How to Take AREDs
AREDs vitamins are pills that should be taken orally exactly as written on the label, or as directed by your doctor. Typically, AREDs vitamins are taken twice a day.
Warnings
Many companies are selling supplements that are touted as helping prevent macular degeneration. Although they might contain vitamins C and E, zinc and beta carotene, they don't contain the exact amounts found to be effective in the AREDs study. Brands that have the correct amount of vitamins will say "AREDs Formula" on the bottle, and the ingredients and concentration should match the AREDs formula exactly. It's important to take supplements that add copper to the formula, so copper deficiency doesn't develop.
Ask your doctor which multivitamin you should take if you're taking AREDS, because more than 80mg a day of zinc can be harmful, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. It's also important to take only the formula without beta-carotene if you're a smoker or have recently quit smoking.
