What Treatments Are Available for Dry AMD?

Lylas G. Mogk, MD, a renowned expert on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), founding director of the Visual Rehabilitation and Research Center of Michigan, part of the Henry Ford Health System Eye Care Services, and co-author of Macular Degeneration: The Complete Guide to Saving and Maximizing Your Sight [1], provides the following information about dry AMD, including ways to reduce your risk:

Although there is not — as of yet — an approved treatment or cure for dry AMD, several clinical trials [2] are in progress to assess potential therapies and treatments for dry AMD.

In addition, the National Eye Institute, the Macular Degeneration Foundation, Inc., The Macular Degeneration Partnership [3] and Macular Degeneration Support [4] provide the following recommendations for slowing down, or preventing the progression of, both dry and wet AMD:

Nutrition and weight control

Studies suggest that eating antioxidant-rich foods such as fresh fruits and dark green leafy vegetables (kale, collard greens, and spinach, for example) may delay the onset or reduce the severity of dry AMD. These types of vegetables contain lutein, which may protect the macula from sun damage, just as it protects the leaves of these vegetables from sun damage.

Eating at least one serving of fatty fish per week may also delay the onset or reduce the severity of dry AMD. These types of fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which help decrease inflammation and promote eye health.

Avoid packaged foods as much as possible. It's important to keep a balance between omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids in our diets. Virtually every food in a package contains omega-6 fatty acids in the form of vegetable oil. We need to increase our intake of omega-3s and decrease our intake of omega-6s.

Avoid artificial fats. Low-fat foods are good options if they've achieved their low-fat status through a process that physically removes the fat. Skim milk and low fat cottage cheese are examples of these types of good low-fat foods.

A low-fat cookie or a no-fat cake, however, is a nutritional contradiction. Usually a low-fat or no-fat label on baked goods doesn't mean less fat was used in the production of the food, but that an artificial fat was used, usually partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. These types of fats are artificial ingredients made in a laboratory and our bodies can't metabolize them. So it's best to eat real cookies - just don't eat the whole dozen!

Incorporate exercise into your everyday life. Obesity may increase the risk for progression to advanced AMD.

Nutritional supplements

The National Eye Institute's AREDS trial [5] indicated that supplements containing high doses of antioxidant vitamins, copper, and zinc may reduce the risk of developing advanced AMD by approximately 30%. Be sure to talk with your doctor before adding any nutritional or vitamin supplements to your diet.

If you don't have AMD and wish to take nutritional supplements, take a good multiple vitamin/mineral combination with additional lutein and omega-3 fatty acids. The AREDS formula is not recommended for persons who do not have macular degeneration because it contains a high dose of zinc.

Blue light

Avoid ultraviolet and blue light (light waves that make the sky, or any object, appear blue) as much as possible and wear sunglasses that block blue light. In commercial sunglasses, this is usually in the yellow-orange-amber tints. Macular Degeneration Support provides two online articles about this topic: Blue Light and Macular Degeneration [6] by Dr. Mogk and Artificial Lighting and the Blue Light Hazard [7] by Dan Roberts.

Control blood pressure

In the AREDS trial, individuals with hypertension were 1.5 times more likely to have wet AMD than persons without hypertension.

Avoid smoking

If you do smoke, stop — and avoid secondhand smoke as well.

Have an eye examination

If you have not had an eye exam by an ophthalmologist in three or more years, you may qualify for help from the AMD Eye Care Program [8], offered through the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The program provides free eye exams for individuals who have not been diagnosed with AMD, are age 65 and older, are U.S. citizens or legal residents, and do not belong to an HMO or the Veterans' Administration (VA). Call the toll-free helpline at 1-866-324-EYES (3937) for more information.