gms | German Medical Science

In the last 15 years large interventional studies (ARED-study) have investigated the possible protective effect of vitamins and supplements on the progression of early AMD towards late AMD. The 10 year folow-up data could demonstrate an rapidly increasing risk for progression according to specific early AMD characteristics, which could be classified with scores (soft drusen each eye 1 score, hyperpigmentations each eye 1 score, unilateral late AMD 2 scores; resulting individual score 0-4; 10-progression-data: AREDS-score 0=1.1%; score 1=8.5%; score 2=26.8%; score 3=54.2%; score 4=72.1%). Patients with score between 2-4 are therefore on a specific high risk for progression. This risk could be reduced appr. at 10% in each group by the application of the AREDS-medication. This effect is a clinical significant and for patients with AREDS-scores 2-4 this medications is recommended. In addition omega-3-faty-acids and may have a protective effect on the progression of early AMD towards CNV and also lutein and zexanthin may be protective. The influence of these substances on the progression of early AMD is evaluated in further interventional studies (AREDS-2).