Age-Related Eye Disease Study II, or AREDS II, is a study that looked at how nutrients affect eyesight. The initial study, completed in 2001, showed that high levels of antioxidants sometimes reduced the risk of developing blindness by 25 percent. There were some problems found after the study though and the subsequent study looked at those issues.
One very debilitating illnesses is that of blindness. In the United States there are nearly one million people that are blind. 90 percent of the blind are older. Eye disease can come about several ways. There are some people who are born blind. This can be as a result of problems in gestation or childbirth. Others go blind as a result of diabetes or they injure their eyes. Most blindness is caused by getting old.
There are treatments available but they are limited in their effectiveness and are only good for a certain range of disease. One of these is laser surgery; this is effective in reducing the threat of blindness. However, it is also too expensive for many people and it comes with some of its own hazards. Normally the side effects are not serious, however, they are common. These include reduced night vision and loss of peripheral vision as well as a worsening of visual acuity and sometimes eye hemorrhages.
The first Age-Related Eye Disease Study was released in 2001. The purpose of this study was to learn more about the risk factors surrounding age-related macular degeneration and cataracts and to research the history of the victims. They also wanted to determine whether high doses of antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and zinc would have any effect on AMD and cataracts.
Researchers from the first study found that their formula could lessen the chance of blindness by 25%, in people who were considered to be in a high risk category. This category included people who had serious AMD in one eye already, or who had a milder form in both eyes. This only helped people with AMD risk and had no effect on whether someone would get cataracts. This was exciting news, however, later studies showed that the beta-carotene was linked to a cancer risk. People who smoked, and also took beta-carotene, had a higher incident of lung cancer.
The next study was finished in May 2013 and had some interesting results. One goal that they had was to discern whether an adequate substitute existed for the beta-carotene. They tried lutein and zeaxanthin and found that they were as effective as the beta-carotene. For people at high risk of advanced AMD this is an important consideration and could help lessen the possibility of developing blindness.
A lot of the elderly are already on various prescriptions. In addition to this they may use over-the-counter drugs or supplements. The high-dose supplements in this combination could interfere or cause some of these medications to lose their effectiveness.
Laser surgery has some great effects but it is expensive and it can have serious complications. The initial formula discovered in the AREDS II may be a safer alternative to surgery. This study has confirmed that the formula of antioxidants and zinc reduce AMD risk. Furthermore, the study revealed that lutein and zeaxanthin were effective substitutes for beta-carotene. Before using any new medication please be sure to speak to your doctor.
One very debilitating illnesses is that of blindness. In the United States there are nearly one million people that are blind. 90 percent of the blind are older. Eye disease can come about several ways. There are some people who are born blind. This can be as a result of problems in gestation or childbirth. Others go blind as a result of diabetes or they injure their eyes. Most blindness is caused by getting old.
There are treatments available but they are limited in their effectiveness and are only good for a certain range of disease. One of these is laser surgery; this is effective in reducing the threat of blindness. However, it is also too expensive for many people and it comes with some of its own hazards. Normally the side effects are not serious, however, they are common. These include reduced night vision and loss of peripheral vision as well as a worsening of visual acuity and sometimes eye hemorrhages.
The first Age-Related Eye Disease Study was released in 2001. The purpose of this study was to learn more about the risk factors surrounding age-related macular degeneration and cataracts and to research the history of the victims. They also wanted to determine whether high doses of antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and zinc would have any effect on AMD and cataracts.
Researchers from the first study found that their formula could lessen the chance of blindness by 25%, in people who were considered to be in a high risk category. This category included people who had serious AMD in one eye already, or who had a milder form in both eyes. This only helped people with AMD risk and had no effect on whether someone would get cataracts. This was exciting news, however, later studies showed that the beta-carotene was linked to a cancer risk. People who smoked, and also took beta-carotene, had a higher incident of lung cancer.
The next study was finished in May 2013 and had some interesting results. One goal that they had was to discern whether an adequate substitute existed for the beta-carotene. They tried lutein and zeaxanthin and found that they were as effective as the beta-carotene. For people at high risk of advanced AMD this is an important consideration and could help lessen the possibility of developing blindness.
A lot of the elderly are already on various prescriptions. In addition to this they may use over-the-counter drugs or supplements. The high-dose supplements in this combination could interfere or cause some of these medications to lose their effectiveness.
Laser surgery has some great effects but it is expensive and it can have serious complications. The initial formula discovered in the AREDS II may be a safer alternative to surgery. This study has confirmed that the formula of antioxidants and zinc reduce AMD risk. Furthermore, the study revealed that lutein and zeaxanthin were effective substitutes for beta-carotene. Before using any new medication please be sure to speak to your doctor.
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