In LASIK and corrective lenses have been the most popular methods for improving vision. In terms of prevention, people were encouraged to limit the amount of time spent working on PCs, avoid eye strain, and maintain a healthy diet to protect their vision. These recommendations have always been encouraged in the medical community as a way to prevent vision loss. Vitamins E and C aren’t as effective as preventing vision loss associated with macular degeneration as previously believed, research says.
Certain supplements were believed to prevent and delay the progression of macular degeneration in aging males. It was previously thought that vitamins E and C successfully protected against vision loss brought on by macular degeneration. The newest vision loss research focused exclusively on the health benefits of the vitamins in older men and is the first study of its kind. The study followed 14,000 males over the age of 50 for eight years and found that the supplements taken daily were unsuccessful in preventing vision loss.
The males were prescribed 400 IUs of vitamin E or 500 IUs of vitamin C to be taken on a daily basis. Some patients were given placebos. Some individuals ended up taking one or both supplements while others may have ended up with a dosage consisting of placebos. In the study, 193 males developed macular degeneration. The results for those administered the placebo regimen were identical to those who were on either or both of the vitamins.
It was widely thought that the vitamins were essential in preventing vision loss among those at risk of developing macular degeneration. Researchers point out that the population tested was generally well-nourished, adding that results may have been different in a population with a diet poor in quality.
The two types of macular degeneration are “wet” and “dry,” the former of the two has been successfully treated in its earliest stages. The condition is usually detected through routine eye exams. Depending on the type of macular degeneration, the person may be a good candidate still for either LASIK surgery or cataract surgery. Lasik treatment has been credited with being able to partially restore the vision in those suffering from macular degeneration.