When it comes to preventing macular degeneration, the leading cause of legal blindness in Americans over 55, don't overlook vitamins. That's the word from scientists at the National Eye Institute who say antioxidants and zinc may help people at high risk for developing advanced age-related macular degeneration keep their vision.

In a new study sponsored by the National Eye Institute, researchers found that individuals in the intermediate stages of the dry form of age-related macular degeneration lowered their risk of developing advanced disease by about 25 percent when treated with a high-dose combination of vitamin C, E, beta-carotene and zinc. The study was published in the October issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.

"This is an exciting discovery because, for people at high risk for developing advanced AMD, these nutrients are the first effective treatment to slow the progression of the disease," said Paul A. Dieving, director of the National Eye Institute, in a statement when study results were released. "AMD is a leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in Americans 65 and older. Currently, treatment is quite limited. These nutrients will delay the progression to advanced AMD in people who are at high risk -- those with intermediate AMD in one or both eyes or those with advanced AMD in one eye already."

The usual symptoms of macular degeneration are loss of detailed vision (at a distance or near) that is not corrected by glasses or related to other problems such as cataracts. Distortion of objects is also common. Straight lines may look wavy. Gray or blank spots may develop in the central visual area. There are two forms of the disease. The dry form, which accounts for 85 percent to 90 percent of macular degeneration cases, causes progressive thinning of the layers of the retina. Vision may become blurred and objects may look distorted. It can change to the wet form over time. Wet macular degeneration occurs when new abnormal vessels grow beneath the retina and bleed. This results in a rapid change in vision and distortion of objects.

AMD affects more older adults than cataracts and glaucoma combined. The condition affects nearly 20 percent of the population over 50 and up to 40 percent of those over 75.

"This is a landmark study," says Dr. James Pasternack, an ophthalmologist with the University of Connecticut Health Partners in West Hartford, Conn. "It was a well-controlled, long-term study that meets the highest criteria."

Pasternack cautions that the nutrients are not a cure for age- related macular degeneration, nor will they help restore vision already lost from the disease..

Pasternack says individuals should consult an ophthalmologist and speak with primary-care physicians before starting any high-dose supplements, which could cause serious side effects.

From Healthy.net