Cholesterol Drug Could Restore Vision In Patients With Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Study Suggests
Cholesterol Drug Could Help Restore Vision In Patients With AMD
Natasha Hinde— The Huffington Post UK
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A drug commonly used to lower cholesterol could help restore vision in patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The health condition currently affects more than 600,000 people in the UK and is the leading cause of vision loss.
A small clinical trial of people with AMD found high-dose treatment with the statin Lipitor cleared away fatty deposits behind the retina. This led to visual improvement in almost half of patients.
Researchers believe the drug has the potential to halt progression of the disease.
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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a painless eye condition that causes patients to lose central vision, usually in both eyes.
Sufferers will find it increasingly difficult to read and people's faces will become difficult to recognise. Colours will also appear less vibrant, according to the NHS.
There are two types of AMD - dry AMD and wet AMD.
Dry AMD develops when the cells of the macula (an oval-shaped pigmented area near the centre of the retina) become damaged by a build-up of deposits called drusen.
It is the most common and least serious type of AMD, accounting for around nine out of 10 cases.
Wet AMD develops when abnormal blood vessels form underneath the macula and damage its cells. This form of the condition is more serious than dry AMD and, without treatment, vision can deteriorate within days.
Researchers recruited 23 patients with dry AMD marked by soft lipid deposits, who were prescribed a 80mg daily dose of atorvastatin, which is marketed under the brand name Lipitor.
Out of the 23 patients, 10 of them ended up with reduced deposits under their retinas and a mild improvement in vision.
Co-author Dr Demetrios Vavvas, from Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in the US, added: "Not all cases of dry AMD are exactly the same, and our findings suggest that if statins are going to help, they will be most effective when prescribed at high dosages in patients with an accumulation of soft lipid material.
"These data suggest that it may be possible to eventually have a treatment that not only arrests the disease but also reverses its damage and improves the visual acuity in some patients."
Professor Miller added: "We hope that this promising preliminary clinical trial will be the foundation for an effective treatment for millions of patients afflicted with AMD."
Researchers now hope to extend the trial with more patients.
The study was published in the journal EBioMedicine.
Preserve Your Eyesight With These 10 Foods
Collard Greens(01 of10)
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Like all leafy green vegetables, collards are high in the carotenoid nutrient lutein. Eating foods rich in carotenoids, particularly lutein and zeaxanthin, is associated with reduced risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. (credit:Shutterstock)
Courgette(02 of10)
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Another food rich in lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein and zeaxanthin help by protecting the central retina (also known as the macula) from blue and ultraviolet light. Consumption of zeaxanthin, with lutein, has been found in studies to reduce the likehood of developing cataracts. (credit:Shutterstock)
Broccoli (03 of10)
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Broccoli and broccoli sprouts have been found to protect the retina from free radical damage. This may be due to a compound in broccoli called sulphoraphane which naturally boosts the body's own defense system against free radicals. (credit:Shutterstock)
Eggs(04 of10)
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Eggs are rich in cysteine and sulphur, two components of glutathione, a protein that acts as an antioxidant for the lens of the eye. This may explain why sulphur-containing compounds have been found to protect from cataract formation. Egg yolks also contain lutein and diets high in lutein lead to reduced risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. (credit:Shutterstock)
Garlic And Onions(05 of10)
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Sulphur-rich garlic and onions are important for the production of glutathione, an important sulphur containing protein that acts as an antioxidant for the lens of the eye. Raising glutathione levels can be instrumental in both prevention and resolution of visual problems like macular degeneration, glaucoma or cataracts. (credit:Shutterstock)
Tomatoes(06 of10)
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Tomatoes contain two eye-healthy nutrients -- lycopene and lutein. Both of these phytochemicals are carotenoids, found to be helpful for vision. Lycopene has been well documented as effective in cancer-protection, but its antioxidant capabilities also act to protect the eyes from sun damage. (credit:Shutterstock)
Carrots (07 of10)
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The old axiom that carrots are good for the eyes is not just a myth. Carrots are rich in betacarotene (precursor to vitamin A, a necessary nutrient for vision), lycopene (a phytonutrient antioxidant protective of UVB radiation in the eye) and lutein (a protective phytonutrient found in high concentrations in the macula which protects it from free radical damage). (credit:Shutterstock)
Blueberries (08 of10)
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Eating blueberries has been associated with the reduction of eye fatigue. As well as having the eye-healthy carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, blueberries contain anthocyanins, eye-nourishing phytonutrients which have been shown to improve night vision. They also contain flavonoids like rutin, resveratrol and quercitin which may have preventative effects on macular degeneration. Blueberries also contain minerals necessary for proper vision including selenium and zinc. (credit:Shutterstock)
Apricots (09 of10)
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Apricots are rich in both beta-carotene and lycopene, two phytochemicals that promote good vision. Beta-carotene is converted by the body to vitamin A, an important antioxidant that resists oxidative stress damage to the lense of the eye, helping to prevent cataracts and macular degeneration. (credit:Shutterstock)
Fatty Fish(10 of10)
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Cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, cod, haddock as well as sardines are rich in the healthy Omega-3 oils. Fish are especially high in EPA and DHA, two Omega-3 fats which are important for cellular health. DHA makes up 30 percent of the fatty acids that comprise the retina. (credit:Shutterstock)