Lutein Treatment for Macular Degeneration

If you have age-related macular degeneration (AMD), lutein may help treat the symptoms of this disease. Some research has also suggested that people with a high dietary intake of this substance may have a lower risk for developing macular degeneration.

 

However, there is some conflicting evidence, with one study that showed a dietary intake of lutein was unrelated to the risk of developing some of the early stages of AMD. Research has indicated that lutein treatment does not appear to slow down the progression of macular degeneration.

 

It is not yet clear if supplementation would be as effective as an increased dietary intake of lutein (through a diet rich in fruits and vegetables) for preventing macular degeneration. Although there is good evidence that lutein does work for some vision problems, there is little evidence to suggest that the supplement would be helpful for improving vision in general for people without any specific eye condition such as macular degeneration.