Care for AMD is not only about a single treatment decision. For many people, the foundation is regular exams, watching for new symptoms, and habits that support the eyes. None of these steps is a cure.

Follow-up exams and home monitoring

Your eye doctor will tell you how often to return. That schedule depends on the type and stage of AMD in your eyes. Between visits, know the warning signs. AAO describes using an Amsler grid to notice new distortion or blank spots. A grid does not replace exams.

Lifestyle steps described by NEI

The National Eye Institute says research shows you may be able to lower your risk of AMD, or slow vision loss from AMD, by:

• quitting smoking — or not starting
• getting regular physical activity
• maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• eating healthy foods, including leafy green vegetables and fish

If you smoke, asking for help to quit is one of the most useful conversations you can have with your primary care clinician and your eye doctor.

AREDS and AREDS2 supplements

NEI says that if you have intermediate AMD in one or both eyes, special dietary supplements (vitamins and minerals) may be able to reduce the chance that it turns into late AMD. If you have late AMD in only one eye, these supplements may slow AMD in the other eye. NEI also says there is currently no supplement treatment described on that page for early AMD — your doctor will usually recommend monitoring and healthy habits.

A later NEI Q&A notes that AREDS2 nutritional supplements can reduce AMD worsening, as shown in the NEI-funded Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS and AREDS2).

AAO says there is no treatment for drusen themselves, but people with lots of drusen or serious vision loss might benefit from a specific combination studied in AREDS and AREDS2. AAO lists this daily formula:

• Vitamin C, 500 mg
• Vitamin E, 400 IU
• Lutein, 10 mg
• Zeaxanthin, 2 mg
• Zinc, 80 mg
• Copper, 2 mg

AAO also says your ophthalmologist can tell you if vitamins and minerals are recommended for your dry AMD, because not all forms benefit, and that beta carotene should not be used by smokers, because it raised the risk of lung cancer.

Do not start a high-dose eye supplement on your own. Ask the clinician who knows your eyes and your other medical conditions.

Book an exam

You can choose your office and book an exam online, or call Hazleton Eye Specialists at 570-453-2020.

Sources

• National Eye Institute. Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Last updated June 22, 2021.
• National Eye Institute. The latest on AMD.
• American Academy of Ophthalmology. Understanding Macular Degeneration.

Medical disclaimer. This page is for general education only. It is not medical advice and does not replace an examination or a conversation with your own doctors. Do not start, stop, or change any medicine or treatment without talking to the clinician who cares for you. If you notice new wavy lines, a sudden blur, or a blank spot in your central vision, seek same-day care from an eye doctor or an emergency department.