Ten-Year Follow-Up from the AREDS2 Study

In this interview from AAO 2021, Dr. Emily Chew summarizes the 10-year follow-up data from the AREDS2 study, which found that the formula conferred a continued protective effect against progression to late AMD since the 5-year data were presented.

The findings showed that lutein/zeaxanthin supplementation offers persistent protection against disease progression, without the risk of lung cancer that doubles with use of beta-carotene. Beyond prescribing the AREDS2 formula, Dr. Chew recommends that patients stop smoking and eat a diet rich in leafy, green vegetables--a good source of lutein and zeaxanthin. Future studies are planned to examine the role that metabolics and genomics play in disease progression, especially to determine whether diet and nutritional supplements can be targeted based on a patient's genetic factors.

Relevant financial disclosures: None