While researchers have not found a cure for macular degeneration, they do have a much greater understanding of the disease as well as options for managing the progression, particularly when identified in the early stages.
People often ask if they should start taking Ocuvite vitamins for macular degeneration and when to start. In studies, researchers have shown there are some effective times to start and those which do not show any benefit to the patient.
Ocuvite
The Ocuvite vitamins for macular degeneration are formulated on the AREDS2 or Are Related Eye Disease Study. This study found a specific combination of lutein, zeaxanthin, and Omega 3 fatty acids, as well as vitamins C and E as well as zinc and copper, could effectively reduce the risk of progression of the disease by approximately 25%.
The Ocuvite vitamins for macular degeneration, which are sold as PreserVision by Bausch + Lomb, contain the AREDS2 formulation. This is considered a better option to the AREDS1 formulation which contained beta-carotene, which was shown to have a risk for smokers or former smokers in developing lung cancer after starting the vitamin supplement.
What Ocuvite eye vitamins did not help with is in preventing the development of AMD for those with risk factors but no symptoms. In other words, if a patient does have genetic and other risk factors, starting vitamins before AMD is present will not prevent the development of the disease. However, once the condition is diagnosed in the moderate to the advanced range, the vitamins can be helpful in managing the progression.
In addition to taking the Ocuvite vitamins, patients can also support eye health by eating a healthy diet with specific types of antioxidant foods, losing and excess weight and protecting the eyes from exposure to UV light by wearing sunglasses when outdoors. Smoking cessation will also help to reduce risk factors for developing AMD.