title: Vitamin usage patterns in the prevention of advanced age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe micronutrient usage patterns among patients at a tertiary ophthalmic center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional clinical case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred thirty-two adult patients with a diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were surveyed about micronutrient usage patterns. The treating ophthalmologist recorded AMD severity using the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) classification system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Responses to study questionnaire and level of AMD severity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 332 participants, 309 (93%) were using supplements, among which 174 (52%) supplemented with an AREDS-like formulation. Of these 174, 140 (80%) were considered AREDS supplement candidates based on study guidelines. Applying AREDS supplementation guidelines to the full cohort, 228 (69%) were candidates for supplementation. Only 140 (61%) of these individuals were confirmed to be using the correct formulation and dosage; an additional 13 (6%) used the AREDS formulation but were not using the recommended dosage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among patients receiving care for AMD at a tertiary retinal center, more than one third of those deemed candidates for AREDS-type supplements were not using them or were using an incorrect dose. Furthermore, nearly one fifth of participants who were using high-dose supplements did not have a level of AMD anticipated to benefit from usage. Increased patient education is needed regarding the recommendations of AREDS.
authors: Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors: Leon D
authors: LD
authors: Charkoudian
authors: Emily W
authors: EW
authors: Gower
authors: Sharon D
authors: SD
authors: Solomon
authors: Andrew P
authors: AP
authors: Schachat
authors: Neil M
authors: NM
authors: Bressler
authors: Susan B
authors: SB
authors: Bressler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins