If you are over the age of fifty then your eyesight may already be affected by an eye disease called Macular degeneration. This disease causes damage to the retina and often results in a loss of vision, usually directly in the center of the visual field. Macular degeneration is age related. There are two forms in which it occurs; in dry and wet forms.

The uncomfortable results of the reduction of sight in the central field of vision are those which mean that it can make it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces, although some peripheral vision may remain. If you may have noticed blurry lines or a minor loss of vision (maybe requiring more light to read for example) then I suggest you visit your eye care professional promptly. The disease is common and progresses at different rates, but once you have it you cannot at this time reverse its effects. However, you may be able to significantly slow down its progress.

A significant study by the National Eye Institute, known as Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) found that taking a specific high-dose formulation of antioxidants and zinc significantly reduces the risk of advanced Macular degeneration (AMD) and its associated vision loss. This finding demonstrated that the vitamins could slow AMD’s progression from the intermediate stage to the advanced stage could help save your vision.

Additionally, the Lutein Anti-Oxidant Supplementation Trial (LAST) showed a vision improvement in macular degeneration patients when people combined these anti-oxidants and Zinc with 10mg of daily Lutein. The ARED’s research recommend specific quantities and types of antioxidants and zinc that should be taken on a daily basis.

If you are at high risk for developing advanced Macular Degeneration you should seriously consider taking the formulation. You are at high risk for developing advanced AMD if you have either:

1. Intermediate AMD in one or both eyes.

OR

2. Advanced AMD (dry or wet) in one eye but not the other eye.

Your eye care professional can tell you if you have AMD, its stage, and your risk for developing the advanced form.

The AREDS formulation is not a cure for AMD. It will not restore vision already lost from the disease. However, it may delay the onset of advanced AMD. It may help people who are at high risk for developing advanced Macular degeneration keep their vision.