Key Research
The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS)
A large clinical trial conducted in the United States, titled The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) found that antioxidants and zinc could help to slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), among people with intermediate and late stages of macular degeneration.
Read the Summary of Results of the AREDS Study 2001
The initial results of the AREDS2 study were released in May 2013. This study recommends some small modifications to the original AREDS formulation.
Read Macular Disease Foundation Australia’s commentary regarding AREDS2.
Blue Mountains Eye Study
The Blue Mountains Eye Study provides evidence that macular degeneration affects one in seven Australians over the age of 50, with the incidence increasing with age. Two of the many studies published from data collected are:
Ten Year Incidence and Progression of Macular Degeneration; The Blue Mountains Eye Study 2007
Long Term Changes in Visual Acuity - Blue Mountains Eye Study 15-Year Data (2013)
The Beaver Dam Study
This study supports the growing body of evidence indicating that smoking is related to an increased risk of developing macular degeneration.
Lucentis (ranibizumab)
Lucentis is an anti-VEGF treatment introduced in Australia in 2007 to treat wet age-related macular degeneration. Studies into Lucentis include:
Improved Vision-related Function after Ranibizumab vs. Photodynamic Therapy: A Randomised Clinical Trial (ANCHOR) 2009
Clinical Trial Results of Lucentis (MARINA) 2006
Eylea (aflibercept)
Eylea is an anti-VEGF treatment introduced in Australia in December 2012.
Read about the pivotal VIEW1 and VIEW2 studies:
Intravitreal Aflibercept (VEGF trap-eye) in Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (2012).
Intravitreal Aflibercept Injection for Neovascular (Wet) Age-related Macular Degeneration (2012)
CATT Study
The CATT (Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatments Trials) was a large study funded by the US National Institute of Health to compare the efficacy of Lucentis (ranibizumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab).
Eyes on the Future
Eyes on the Future is a comprehensive report on the incidence, prevention and tretment of age-related macular degeneration in Australia.