Nutritional supplementation for age related macular degeneration in Italy

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the rate of adherence to nutritional supplementation prescription in Italian patients affected by advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: All Italian patients referred to the Department of Ophthalmology of Scientific Institute San Raffaele Hospital, in Milan from August to November 2012 were prospectively evaluated. Dilated funduscopic examinations were performed to classify patients according to AREDS categories. Inclusion criteria were the presence of AMD in AREDS category 3 and 4. Exclusion criteria were the presence of other ocular disorders. Primary outcome measure was the rate of adherence to the supplementation prescription.

Results: 100 patients were included in the study, meeting the AREDS criteria for taking nutritional supplementation (95 patients with AREDS category 4, and 5 with category 3). Thirty-six patients (36%) were taking oral supplementation, 33 of them (94%) assuming is 1 tablet/day. Oral supplementation was recommended by the personal ophthalmologist in all patients assuming it (100%). Fifty-eight patients (58%) declared to have had no information from their ophthalmologist, whereas fifteen (15%) declared to have partial knowledge about the effects of supplementation in AMD.

Conclusions: Our data reveal that Italian patients with AREDS category 3 and 4 have a low adherence to nutritional supplementation. More than 70% of patients have not been adequately informed by their ophthalmologist regarding the potential benefits of oral supplementation for AMD. Italian ophthalmologists should stress the importance of nutritional recommendation.

Keywords: 412 age-related macular degeneration • 618 nutritional factors • 424 antioxidants