Vitamin Usage Patterns in the Prevention of Advanced Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Presented at: Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Convention, May 2005, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Received 2 October 2006; received in revised form 31 July 2007; accepted 1 August 2007. published online 21 December 2007.
Objective
To describe micronutrient usage patterns among patients at a tertiary ophthalmic center.
Design
Cross-sectional clinical case series.
Participants
Three hundred thirty-two adult patients with a diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods
Participants were surveyed about micronutrient usage patterns. The treating ophthalmologist recorded AMD severity using the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) classification system.
Main Outcome Measures
Responses to study questionnaire and level of AMD severity.
Results
Among 332 participants, 309 (93%) were using supplements, among which 174 (52%) supplemented with an AREDS-like formulation. Of these 174, 140 (80%) were considered AREDS supplement candidates based on study guidelines. Applying AREDS supplementation guidelines to the full cohort, 228 (69%) were candidates for supplementation. Only 140 (61%) of these individuals were confirmed to be using the correct formulation and dosage; an additional 13 (6%) used the AREDS formulation but were not using the recommended dosage.
Conclusions
Among patients receiving care for AMD at a tertiary retinal center, more than one third of those deemed candidates for AREDS-type supplements were not using them or were using an incorrect dose. Furthermore, nearly one fifth of participants who were using high-dose supplements did not have a level of AMD anticipated to benefit from usage. Increased patient education is needed regarding the recommendations of AREDS.
Available online: December 21, 2007.
1Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
2Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
3Retina Division, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
4Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
Correspondence to Susan B. Bressler, MD, Julia G. Levy, PhD Professor of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, 600 North Wolfe Street, Maumenee 229, Baltimore, MD 21287.
Manuscript no. 2006-1107.
The authors have no proprietary interest in the products discussed in the article.
Supported in part by the Retina Division Research Fund, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
ABSTRACT