From the Guidelines
Red light therapy and saffron are not recommended as primary treatments for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and instead, the AREDS2 vitamin formula should be considered as the primary treatment to slow disease progression. The AREDS2 formulation, which includes vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, and copper, has been shown to reduce the risk of progression to advanced AMD by about 25% in people with intermediate AMD 1. While some studies may suggest potential benefits of red light therapy and saffron, the current evidence is not strong enough to support their use as primary treatments for dry AMD.
Key Recommendations
- The AREDS2 vitamin formula should be taken daily to reduce the risk of progression to advanced AMD 1
- Lifestyle modifications, such as smoking cessation, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and blood pressure control, are essential to manage the condition
- Protecting your eyes from UV light with sunglasses is recommended
- Regular monitoring with an eye care professional, typically every 6-12 months, is crucial to track any changes in vision
- Home monitoring with an Amsler grid can help detect vision changes between appointments
Rationale
The AREDS2 formulation has been consistently shown to slow disease progression in people with intermediate AMD, and its use is supported by strong evidence 1. In contrast, the evidence for red light therapy and saffron is limited, and more research is needed to fully understand their potential benefits and risks. As a result, the AREDS2 vitamin formula remains the primary recommended treatment for dry AMD, and lifestyle modifications and regular monitoring are also essential to manage the condition.
From the Research
Recommended Treatments for Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
- There are currently no highly efficacious treatments available to slow disease progression or restore lost vision in eyes with dry AMD 2, 3.
- Several therapeutic avenues are being investigated, including:
- Complement inhibition
- Neuroprotection
- Visual cycle modulators
- Cell-based therapies
- Anti-inflammatory agents
- Oral supplementation with antioxidant vitamins and minerals, such as the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) or AREDS2 formulation, has been shown to reduce the risk of progression to advanced AMD, although the impact was primarily seen in neovascular rather than atrophic AMD 4, 5.
- Emerging oral pharmaceuticals are being researched, with several currently in phase 2 and 3 clinical trials for dry AMD 6.
Red Light Therapy and Saffron for Dry AMD
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to support the use of red light therapy and saffron for dry AMD.
- The studies primarily focus on investigating various therapeutic avenues, including complement inhibition, neuroprotection, and oral pharmaceuticals, but do not mention red light therapy or saffron as potential treatments for dry AMD 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.