Reticular Pseudodrusen: The Third Macular Risk Feature for Progression to Late Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 Report 30

PURPOSE

To analyze reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) as an independent risk factor for progression to late age-related macular degeneration (AMD), alongside traditional macular risk factors (soft drusen and pigmentary abnormalities) considered simultaneously.

DESIGN

Post hoc analysis of 2 clinical trial cohorts: Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) and AREDS2.

PARTICIPANTS

Eyes with no late AMD at baseline in AREDS (6959 eyes, 3780 participants) and AREDS2 (3355 eyes, 2056 participants).

METHODS

Color fundus photographs (CFPs) from annual visits were graded for soft drusen, pigmentary abnormalities, and late AMD. Presence of RPD was from grading of fundus autofluorescence images (AREDS2) and deep learning grading of CFPs (AREDS). Proportional hazards regression analyses were performed, considering AREDS AMD severity scales (modified simplified severity scale [person] and 9-step scale [eye]) and RPD presence simultaneously.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Progression to late AMD, geographic atrophy (GA), and neovascular AMD.

RESULTS

In AREDS, for late AMD analyses by person, in a model considering the simplified severity scale simultaneously, RPD presence was associated with a higher risk of progression: hazard ratio (HR), 2.15 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.75-2.64). However, the risk associated with RPD presence differed at different severity scale levels: HR, 3.23 (95% CI, 1.60-6.51), HR, 3.81 (95% CI, 2.38-6.10), HR, 2.28 (95% CI, 1.59-3.27), and HR, 1.64 (95% CI, 1.20-2.24), at levels 0-1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Considering the 9-step scale (by eye), RPD presence was associated with higher risk: HR, 2.54 (95% CI, 2.07-3.13). The HRs were 5.11 (95% CI, 3.93-6.66) at levels 1-6 and 1.78 (95% CI, 1.43-2.22) at levels 7 and 8. In AREDS2, by person, RPD presence was not associated with higher risk: HR, 1.18 (95% CI, 0.90-1.56); by eye, it was HR, 1.57 (95% CI, 1.31-1.89). In both cohorts, RPD presence carried a higher risk for GA than neovascular AMD.

CONCLUSIONS

Reticular pseudodrusen represent an important risk factor for progression to late AMD, particularly GA. However, the added risk varies markedly by severity level, with highly increased risk at lower/moderate levels and less increased risk at higher levels. Reticular pseudodrusen status should be included in updated AMD classification systems, risk calculators, and clinical trials.

Carotenoids in human nutrition and health

Carotenoids are naturally occurring pigments found in most fruits and vegetables, plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria. Humans cannot synthesize carotenoids and must ingest them in food or via supplementation. Carotenoids have a range of functions in human health. They primarily exert antioxidant effects, but individual carotenoids may also act through other mechanisms; for example, β-carotene has a pro-vitamin A function, while lutein/zeaxanthin constitute macular pigment in the eye. The benefit of lutein in reducing progression of age-related macular eye disease and cataracts is strengthening; an intake recommendation would help to generate awareness in the general population to have an adequate intake of lutein rich foods. There is evidence that carotenoids, in addition to beneficial effects on eye health, also produce improvements in cognitive function and cardiovascular health, and may help to prevent some types of cancer. Despite the evidence for the health benefits of carotenoids, large population-based supplementation studies have produced mixed results for some of the carotenoids. To establish and confirm the health benefits of the different carotenoids more research, including clinical studies, is needed.

Nutritional supplements in age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most frequent cause of blindness in the Western World. While with new therapies that are directed towards vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potentially efficient treatment option for the wet form of the disease has been introduced, a therapeutic regimen for dry AMD is still lacking. There is evidence from several studies that oral intake of supplements is beneficial in preventing progression of the disease. Several formulations of micronutrients are currently available. The present review focuses on the role of supplements in the treatment and prevention of AMD and sums up the current knowledge about the most frequently used micronutrients. In addition, regulatory issues are discussed, and future directions for the role of supplementation in AMD are highlighted.

Nutritional Supplements for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) and The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2), are the only large-scale, long-term, randomized controlled trials to demonstrate a role of nutritional supplements in reducing risk of progression to advanced forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This review summarizes the study design, main results, and implications of these trials in the clinical care of nonexudative AMD patients. In addition, it discusses other recent prospective studies focusing on efficacy of nutritional supplementation for prevention or slowing progression of AMD as well as briefly discusses possible effect of genotypes on response to AREDS supplementation.

Factors affecting the use of antioxidant supplements in patients with late AMD

Background

The purpose of this study was to assess the use of oral antioxidant supplements in patients with late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to identify influencing factors that may affect the use of such supplements.

Methods

The study included 47 patients with late AMD. Using a questionnaire, the patients were asked for their demographic, ophthalmologic, and systemic data, their source of recommendation of antioxidant use for AMD, and/or their reasons for nonuse. The demographic, ophthalmologic, and systemic information was correlated with use or nonuse of oral antioxidant supplements for AMD.

Results

Sixty-eight percent (32/47) of patients took antioxidant supplements for AMD and 32% (15/47) of patients did not. There were no statistically significant differences in demographic, ophthalmologic, and systemic parameters between patients with late AMD who used supplements and those who did not. Two thirds of patients with late AMD (66%, 31/47) reported being recommended oral antioxidant supplements for AMD by their ophthalmologist. Patients who did not use antioxidant supplements either did not obtain any recommendation or did not believe in their benefits.

Conclusion

This study shows that most patients with late AMD use antioxidant supplements despite the recommendation to do so being missing in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study. Our study emphasizes the importance of seeking further therapeutic options for patients with late AMD.

Prevention and treatment of age-related macular degeneration: an update for pharmacists

OBJECTIVE

Review the current recommendations for the prevention and treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

DATA SOURCES

Articles indexed in PubMed (National Library of Medicine), the Cochrane Reviews and Trials, Dynamed, and Iowa Drug Information Service (IDIS) in the last 10 years using the key words macular degeneration, agerelated macular degeneration (AMD), AMD and treatment, AMD and prevention.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

Sixty-nine published papers were reviewed, and criteria supporting the primary objective were used to identify useful resources.

DATA SYNTHESIS

The literature included practice guidelines, original research articles, review articles, product prescribing information, and supplement product information for the prevention and treatment of AMD.

CONCLUSION

AMD is a leading cause of visual impairment in older adults. At present there is no cure for advanced AMD, but intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors minimize and even reverse vision loss in patients with AMD of the neovascular type. In the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), participants with intermediate AMD who received a supplement combination of vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and zinc had a greater delay in progression to advanced AMD than those participants who received a portion of these supplements. In the second AREDS, AREDS2, the addition of lutein + zeaxanthin, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) + eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), or lutein + zeaxanthin and DHA + EPA to the complete AREDS formulation did not further reduce the risk of progression to advanced AMD. Subgroup analyses indicated that additional research with lutein + zeaxanthin supplementation is warranted as it was beneficial in participants with low dietary intake of lutein + zeaxanthin. A formulation without beta-carotene may be best for most patients, especially smokers or former smokers. Health care professionals will want to consider patient-specific information before recommending ocular health supplements.