How is AMD (age-related macular degeneration) treated?

https://nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen/armd_facts
How is AMD treated?
Early AMD
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Currently, no treatment exists for early AMD, which in many people shows no symptoms or loss of vision. Your eye care professional may recommend that you get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. The exam will help determine if your condition is advancing.
As for prevention, AMD occurs less often in people who exercise, avoid smoking, and eat nutritious foods including green leafy vegetables and fish. If you already have AMD, adopting some of these habits may help you keep your vision longer.
Intermediate and late AMD
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Researchers at the National Eye Institute tested whether taking nutritional supplements could protect against AMD in the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS and AREDS2). They found that daily intake of certain high-dose vitamins and minerals can slow progression of the disease in people who have intermediate AMD, and those who have late AMD in one eye.

The first AREDS trial showed that a combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, zinc, and copper can reduce the risk of late AMD by 25 percent. The AREDS2 trialtested whether this formulation could be improved by adding lutein, zeaxanthin or omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are nutrients enriched in fish oils. Lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene all belong to the same family of vitamins, and are abundant in green leafy vegetables.

The AREDS2 trial found that adding lutein and zeaxanthin or omega-three fatty acids to the original AREDS formulation (with beta-carotene) had no overall effect on the risk of late AMD. However, the trial also found that replacing beta-carotene with a 5-to-1 mixture of lutein and zeaxanthin may help further reduce the risk of late AMD. Moreover, while beta-carotene has been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer in current and former smokers, lutein and zeaxanthin appear to be safe regardless of smoking status.
Here are the ingredients based on AREDS and AREDS2 research:

500 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C
400 international units of vitamin E
80 mg zinc as zinc oxide
2 mg copper as cupric oxide
10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin

If you have intermediate or late AMD, you might benefit from taking supplements containing these ingredients. But first, be sure to review and compare the labels. Many supplements have different ingredients, or different doses, from those tested in the AREDS trials. Also, consult your doctor or eye care professional about which supplement, if any, is right for you. For example, if you smoke regularly, or used to, your doctor may recommend that you avoid supplements containing beta-carotene.
Even if you take a daily multivitamin, you should consider taking an AREDS supplement if you are at risk for late AMD. The formulations tested in the AREDS trials contain much higher doses of vitamins and minerals than what is found in multivitamins. Tell your doctor or eye care professional about any multivitamins you are taking when you are discussing possible AREDS formulations.
You may see claims that your specific genetic makeup (genotype) can influence how you will respond to AREDS supplements. Some recent studies have claimed that, depending on genotype, some patients will benefit from AREDS supplements and others could be harmed. These claims are based on a portion of data from the AREDS research. NEI investigators have done comprehensive analyses of the complete AREDS data. Their findings to date indicate that AREDS supplements are beneficial for patients of all tested genotypes. Based on the overall data, the American Academy of Ophthalmology(link is external) does not support the use of genetic testing to guide treatment for AMD.
Finally, remember that the AREDS formulation is not a cure. It does not help people with early AMD, and will not restore vision already lost from AMD. But it may delay the onset of late AMD. It also may help slow vision loss in people who already have late AMD.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD

A new report from Frost & Sullivan suggests that daily supplementation with 10 mg lutein and 2 mg R,R’-zeaxanthin could save up to €6.2 billion in total medical costs resulting from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Europe (1).  

Information source:
http://www.nutri-facts.org/en_US/news/supplementation-with-lutein-and-zeaxanthin-could-save-6-billion-in-avoidable-medical-costs-in-europe.html

Health supplements to cure eye floaters

Vitamins for Eye Floaters, Can Vitamins Help with Eye Floaters?

http://www.homeremediesorg.com/eye/vitamins-eye-floaters/vitamins-for-eye-floaters-best-treat-supplements/#Vitamins_for_eyes_floaters_treatment_do_they_work

The following is adapted from the above web page.

It is however very important to note that, not all antioxidants are effective when it comes to eye health. The two most effective antioxidants for eye floaters and other eye conditions are 

lutein and zeaxanthin. 

Taurine for Eye Floaters and flashes

Taurine is a nutrient that acts as a natural cure for eye floaters and flashes. It is an essential amino acid that maintains the function of the retina. Taurine also helps to remove waste materials. Toxins and impurities from the eyes.

Since this nutrient is not synthesized by the human body, it must be obtained from food sources or supplements.  It is richly found in protein rich foods such as muscle meat.

Bilberry Extract for Eye Floaters, supplements

Bilberry is a dietary supplement and not a vitamin that has long been used for better eye health. Legend has it that the British warplane pilots bombed enemies with more precision with increased night vision during the World War 2 after eating bilberry jam for tea. While this is yet to be proven, scientists have linked this to the abundance of chemical compounds with powerful antioxidant and inflammatory properties.

Anthocynosides (flavonoid compounds) found in bilberry improve circulation in blood vessels of the eye, maintain the integrity of the capillaries, stabilize collagen and correct the signs of retinal damage. This will effectively prevent retinal tears and breakdown of vitreous which will prevent eye floaters. You can easily buy bilberry extracts from your local drug store.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin and Eye Health

Lutein and Zeaxanthin and Eye Health

Source: http://www.nhstaysideadtc.scot.nhs.uk/MDS%20Nutrition%20and%20the%20eye.pdf

More recently, interest has grown into the effect
of the antioxidant lutein (pronounced loo-teen),
a carotenoid (pigment) found in high quantities
in green leafy vegetables.

Lutein, with zeaxanthin
(pronounced zay-a-zan-thin), forms the macular
pigment, absorbing potentially damaging blue
light and free radicals.

This in turn relieves
oxidative stress – a state in which free radical
generation compromises the ability of the
antioxidant defence system to neutralise their
reaction before they cause damage to cells.


Meso-zeaxanthin (MZ) is another carotenoid that
scientists think is formed from lutein within the
retina. There is little evidence at the moment to
suggest that supplementing with MZ is any better
than supplementing with lutein.

Some studies have shown that lutein can also
increase the density of the macular pigment – an
important yardstick for the health of the macula –
while other research indicates that early damage
to the macula may be slowed by supplementing
the diet with lutein.

The human body is unable to manufacture lutein
so it has to be obtained from food or supplements.
Taking 10mg of lutein every day was found by a
randomised controlled trial to have a positive
effect, so this is generally considered to be the
minimum amount needed. However the European
average daily intake is just 2.2mg a day.

While research into the potential benefits of lutein
is continuing, experts agree that you should eat a
healthy balanced diet which includes plenty of
green leafy vegetables and make sensible lifestyle
changes, such as stopping smoking, which will
boost general health and help reduce your risk of
developing AMD.

4
Lutein and zeaxanthin can be found naturally in
vegetables and fruit. For example, lutein can be
found in yellow and orange peppers, Brussels
sprouts, sweetcorn, green peas, mango, bilberries
and green leafy vegetables such as kale, all cabbage,
winter greens, spinach, chard and broccoli. The
vegetables should be cooked as this increases
‘bioavailability’ (how easy it is for the digestive
system to extract the lutein). Kale however, which
is by far the best source of lutein, has good
bioavailability even without cooking.

Zeaxanthin can be
found in orange and
yellow fruits, sweet
peppers, broccoli,
sweetcorn, Romaine
lettuce, spinach,
tangerines, oranges
and eggs. Many of
these overlap with
food types in which
vitamins A, C and E,

Which Carotenoids found in food are not converted into vitamin A?

Info Source: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/

Carotenoids found in food, such as lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, are not converted into vitamin A.

Tthe most important provitamin A carotenoid is beta-carotene

 The followung is extracted from http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/

Vitamin A is the name of a group of fat-soluble retinoids, including retinol, retinal, retinoic acid, and retinyl esters [1-3].

Vitamin A is involved in immune function, vision, reproduction, and cellular communication [1,4,5].

Vitamin A is critical for vision as an essential component of rhodopsin, a protein that absorbs light in the retinal receptors, and because it supports the normal differentiation and functioning of the conjunctival membranes and cornea [2-4].

Vitamin A also supports cell growth and differentiation, playing a critical role in the normal formation and maintenance of the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs [2].

Two forms of vitamin A are available in the human diet: preformed vitamin A (retinol and its esterified form, retinyl ester) and provitamin A carotenoids [1-5].

Preformed vitamin A is found in foods from animal sources, including dairy products, fish, and meat (especially liver)

.

By far the most important provitamin A carotenoid is beta-carotene; other provitamin A carotenoids are alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin. The body converts these plant pigments into vitamin A.

Both provitamin A and preformed vitamin A must be metabolized intracellularly to retinal and retinoic acid, the active forms of vitamin A, to support the vitamin's important biological functions [2,3].

Other carotenoids found in food, such as lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, are not converted into vitamin A.

The various forms of vitamin A are solubilized into micelles in the intestinal lumen and absorbed by duodenal mucosal cells [5]. Both retinyl esters and provitamin A carotenoids are converted to retinol, which is oxidized to retinal and then to retinoic acid [2]. Most of the body's vitamin A is stored in the liver in the form of retinyl esters.

For more info, please visit http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/