Cause: Age and oxidative damage.

Useful Supplements: Beta-carotene, Lutein, Selenium, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Zinc.

Useful Herbs: Bilberry, Ginkgo Biloba.

Further information: Macular degeneration is a disease which affects the retina, gradually causing vision loss. The macula is a part of the retina responsible for distinguishing fine details on objects in the center of the field of vision. A breakdown between the retina and the choroid results in degeneration.
Macular degeneration is a common effect of aging.¹ Risk factors include smoking and family history.
The first symptom of macular degeneration is usually blurred central vision or a large central blind spot. There is no cure, but laser surgery during the early stages of the disease may slow its progression.
While there is no certain preventive measure, avoiding extreme sunlight may be helpful. Sunlight triggers oxidative damage to the eye, and this can lead to macular degeneration.²

The following supplements and herbs may be helpful in the prevention and treatment of macular degeneration:

Since oxidative damage of the eye can cause macular degeneration, taking antioxidants may lower the disease’s occurrence.³ People with high levels of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Selenium appear to have a 70% lower risk of developing macular degeneration.⁴

Eating foods with Beta-carotene, another antioxidant, also lowers the risk of macular degeneration.⁵

Lutein, an antioxidant found in spinach and kale, works extremely well in protecting the retina against sunlight damage.⁶ Supplementation with 6 mg of Lutein daily may decrease the occurrence of macular degeneration by more than 50%.⁷

Zinc is needed by the retina to create enzymes needed for vision. 80 mg of Zinc daily may decrease vision loss rate in patients with macular degeneration.⁸

Ginkgo Biloba appears to reduce the risk of macular degeneration.⁹ Gingko should not be used by patients who are taking anticoagulant medications.

Bilberry contains compounds which act as antioxidants in the retina, making it a possible preventive measure for macular degeneration.¹⁰ It also strengthens capillaries in the retina and reduces hemorrhaging.¹¹

References:

¹National Advisory Eye Council. Report of the Retinal and Choroidal Diseases Panel: Vision Research CA National Plan: 1983–1987. Bethesda, MD: US Dept of Health and Human Services, 1984. National Institutes of Health publication 83-2471.
²Young RW. Solar radiation and age-related macular degeneration. Surv Ophthalmol 1988:32:252–69.
³Mares-Perlman, J.A., et al. Serum antioxidants and age-related macular degeneration in a population-based case-control study. Archives of Ophthalmology, 113(12, 15): 18-23, December 1995.
⁴Eye Disease Case-Control Study Group. Antioxidant status and neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Arch Ophthalmol 1993:111:104–9.
⁵Goldberg J, Flowerdew G, Smith E, et al. Factors associated with age-related macular degeneration. Am J Epidemiol 1988:128:700–10.
⁶Bone RA. Landrum JT. Distribution of macular pigment components, zeaxanthin and lutein, in human retina. Methods Enzymol 1992:213:360–6.
⁷Seddon JM, Ajani UA, Sperduto RD, et al. Dietary carotenoids, vitamins A, C, and E, and advanced age-related macular degeneration. JAMA 1994:272:1413–20.
⁸Newsome DA, Swartz M, Leone NC, et al. Oral zinc in macular degeneration. Arch Ophthalmol 1988:106:192–8.
⁹Lebuisson DA, Leroy L, Reigal G. Treatment of senile macular degeneration with Ginkgo biloba extract: a preliminary double-blind study versus placebo. In Rokan (Ginkgo biloba): Recent Results in Pharmacology and Clinic, Fünfgeld FW, ed. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1988;231–6.
¹⁰Scharrer A, Ober M. Anthocyanosides in the treatment of retinopathies. Klin Monatsbl Augenheikld Beih 1981;178:386–9.
¹¹Mian E, Curri SB, et al. Anthocyanosides and the walls of microvessels: Further aspects of the mechanism of action of their protective in syndromes due to abnormal capillary fragility. Minerva Med 1977;68:3565–81.