Treatments for Dry Macular Degeneration

There is currently one treatment available for advanced dry AMD, known as geographic atrophy. The drug, Syfovre, slows the progression of further vision loss. There are many potential treatments in clinical trials as well.  

For those whose AMD has not reached the advanced stage, there are intervention measures that could delay and possibly prevent intermediate AMD from progressing to the advanced stage in which vision loss occurs.

The National Eye Institute’s Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) found that the progression of AMD could be delayed or prevented by taking nutritional supplements with a specific high-dose formulation of antioxidants (vitamins C and E and beta-carotene), zinc, and copper. A follow-up trial (AREDS2) was completed in May 2013. In that study, researchers found that the addition of omega-3 fatty acids to the supplements did not improve the formula’s success. The antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin proved safer than beta-carotene, which increases the risk of lung cancer for smokers or ex-smokers.

The AREDS2 recommendation for the supplement formula is:

• 500 mg of vitamin C
• 400 IUs of vitamin E
• 10 mg of lutein
• 2 mg of zeaxanthin
• 80 mg of zinc
• 2 mg of copper

It’s important to find the right vitamins, since many are marketed for eye health but only a few have formulas that have proven effective.

• Return to Treatments & Drugs.
• Learn about the treatments for wet age-related macular degeneration.