by Dr. Rohit Narayan is a therapeutic optometrist based in the Midlands in England. October 27th, 2018
Layer 2 – Those with early dry AMD
Dr. Narayan says, “In AREDS, only 1.3% of participants with early AMD as shown in figure 2 progressed to late AMD within five years. The AREDS demonstrated that there was no statistically significant evidence of a benefit in delaying the progression of eyes with early AMD to more significant drusen-related pathology (intermediate AMD) through the use of antioxidant vitamin and/or zinc supplementation. ”
“This review highlights the multifactorial influences of diet and food intake on the incidence and progression of AMD. As diet is a modifiable risk factor for AMD, improvement to diet and food intake. coupled maintenance of a healthy body mass index, healthy diet, physical activity and stress management should be encouraged.”
Approach for this group:
“There is the challenge for patients in this group to obtain the nutrients they need from their daily life. If they smoke or acknowledge a poor diet and lifestyle, then taking a supplement may be beneficial in a general way.
In summation:
- The progression from early to advanced AMD within five years occurs in just over 1% of patients.
- Specific studies on how the risk of progression in mild AMD is influenced by diet and lifestyle are few, but several population studies show benefit for overall risk.
- Taking the pragmatic approach, all that we would say to someone to keep their eyes healthy can be applied here – smoking cessation, advice on sun protection.
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle: a healthy body mass index, healthy diet, physical activity and stress management.
- The highlights of the population studies are summarised in table 3 below.
- College of Optometrists Leaflet ‘Healthy lifestyle, healthy eyes’.
- There is no evidence to support the use of high dose antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for patients who have less than intermediate AMD.
