Study: Dietary Oral Zeaxanthin Decreases the Progression of Wet AMD

Data published in the peer-reviewed journal Ophthalmology and Therapy confirmed both an earlier comparative trial and 2-year randomized clinical trial that 20 mg of dietary zeaxanthin daily decreases the chances of developing wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the second eye.

The study, titled "Prevention Surpasses Treatment: 5-year Follow-Up, Cost-Utility, and Cost–Benefit of Zeaxanthin Therapy for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration," is a 5-year follow-up, case-control study revealing that oral zeaxanthin decreases the incidence of wet macular degeneration in the second eye by 54% in those who already have wet macular degeneration in the first eye. This typically indicates that people who benefit from this therapy will maintain driving vision. Zeaxanthin supplementation improved overall quality of life by 7.2% for each enrollee.

Another report by the Second Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS2) Research Group published 5-year post-trial data in JAMA Ophthalmology in 2022 demonstrating that a combination of the nutrient lutein + 2 mg zeaxanthin daily decreased the development of severe macular degeneration by 9%.

The current report data suggest that the 20 mg zeaxanthin dose added to the AREDS2 recommended supplements with 2 mg zeaxanthin is 54% more favorable yet in preventing wet macular degeneration in second eye. There were no serious ocular or systemic complications recognized from zeaxanthin.