A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial of High-Dose Supplementation With Vitamins C and E, Beta Carotene, and Zinc for Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Vision Loss

Abstract

AGE-RELATED macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in the United States and elsewhere among people 65 years or older.^1-4 At present, there is no proven treatment that slows or prevents the development of advanced AMD. Laser photocoagulation^5,6 and photodynamic therapy^7,8 reduce the risk of either moderate or severe visual acuity loss in some persons with the neovascular form of the disease. Other medical and surgical interventions are under investigation but none has been demonstrated as being effective in a large randomized clinical trial.^9-13