The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) was a major ten year study sponsored by the National Eye Institute (NEI), one of the Federal government's National Institutes of Health, and was conducted at 11 major medical center research facilities around the country. The study, completed in October 2001, sought to determine whether taking vitamin and/or mineral supplements could help prevent, treat or cure certain eye conditions.

People who are at high risk for developing advanced AMD should consider taking the formulation. You are at high risk for developing advanced AMD if you have either: Your eye doctor can tell you if you have AMD, its stage, and your risk for developing the advanced form. The AREDS formulation is not a cure for Age-related Macular Degeneration. It will not restore vision already lost from the disease. However, it may delay the onset of advanced AMD.

People who are at high risk for developing advanced AMD should consider taking the formulation. You are at high risk for developing advanced AMD if you have either: Your eye care professional can tell you if you have AMD, its stage, and your risk for developing the advanced form. The AREDS formulation is not a cure for AMD. It will not restore vision already lost from the disease. However, it may delay the onset of advanced AMD.

Lutein was not available when AREDS was started but it probably would have been included if the study were started now.

No. The high levels of vitamins and minerals are difficult to achieve from diet alone. However, previous studies have suggested that people who have diets rich in green leafy vegetables have a lower risk of developing AMD. No. The formulation's levels of antioxidants and zinc are considerably higher than the amounts in any daily multivitamin.

The AREDS participants reported few side effects from the treatments. About 7.5 percent of participants assigned to the zinc treatments -- compared with 5.0 percent who did not have zinc in their assigned treatment -- had urinary tract problems. Yellowing of the skin, a well-known side effect of large doses of beta-carotene, was reported slightly more often by participants taking antioxidants.

Despite the evidence that these nutrients did not lower the risk of cataract development over the seven-year period of the study, an effect over a longer period of time at this point cannot be ruled out.