A specific mix of Vitamins and minerals may benefit patients who have a certain form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Taking these nutritional supplements might help slow this eye disease.

About 8 out of 10 patients with AMD have the dry form. This condition is caused by the breaking down or thinning of the macula. Dry AMD usually begins when tiny, yellow deposits called drusen form under the retina. Eventually, the macula may so thin it eventually stop working properly.

Many patients with AMD have drusen. These alone do not cause vision loss. But when drusen grow in size or number, you are at risk for getting early or intermediate AMD. There are not always symptoms with these stages of AMD, though patients with intermediate AMD might start to notice a blurred spot in their central vision.

The breakdown of cells in your macula is the development of advanced AMD.  This is when the blurred spot in your central vision starts getting bigger and darker. That is what robs you of your central vision.

AREDS Vitamins and Dry AMD 

AREDS 2 (Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2) was a very large research study. It looked at taking vitamins and minerals for AMD daily. This study found that certain nutritional supplements could help some patients who have a lot of drusen. These supplements may also help patients who have lost a lot of vision in at least one eye from AMD. Taking the following nutritional supplements every day may help these patients lower their risk of getting late-stage or wet AMD:

• Vitamin C (500 mg)
• Vitamin E (400 IU)
• Lutein (10 mg)
• Zeaxanthin (2 mg)
• Zinc (80 mg)
• Copper (2 mg)

It is important to remember that nutritional supplements will not cure AMD, but they may help to slow the disease in some patients with early- to mid-stage AMD.

Should you take nutritional supplements for AMD?

Talk with your eye doctor about whether nutritional supplements are recommended for you. Here are some topics to discuss:

• Your chance of getting advanced AMD. Studies show that nutritional supplements might help patients with early to intermediate AMD who are at risk for developing advanced AMD.
• Eye-healthy foods. Studies show that nutritional supplements alone are not enough to prevent or delay advanced AMD. You also should eat a healthy, balanced diet. This includes dark leafy greens (like spinach and kale) along with yellow, orange and other colorful fruits and vegetables.
• Benefits and risks of nutritional supplements. Taking nutritional supplements can be helpful, but there can be possible health risks. Talk with your eye doctor and primary care doctor about how the vitamins and minerals listed above might affect you.