Eyeworld

EW RETINA 74 Headline byline goes here plus fade October 2016 development of geographic atro- phy with continuous use. We are still not certain if it's caused by the treatment with anti-VEGF or if it is a progression of the disease itself." Dr. Bopp said that AMD research has certain limitations that are hard to get around. "The problem is that clinical trials need a control group, but you can't ethically, with a good conscience, deny patients with wet AMD anti-VEGF for possibly a 5-year duration, since we know the treat- ments halt wet progression and even restore vision in some cases. That is why, at the moment, we have more of a clinical impression surrounding neovascular-associated GA, but lack studies to prove it." Prevention According to Dr. Bopp, while preventive treatment for AMD has proven effective in slowing disease progression in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), it also presents certain limitations in daily practice, due to patient adherence and a variety of other factors. Dr. Bopp explained, "We recom- mend the AREDS vitamin cocktail to our patients, but a little half-heart- edly. On the one hand, AREDS is the only study that has proven that we can affect progression in dry AMD patients, so it lets us offer some hope and give patients something to work toward. But on the other hand, you would have to follow a patient's nutritional plan closely and also determine the patient's nutritional deficits to fully understand if the supplements are working. Some- times statistically significant study outcomes are not quite as clinically relevant." While ineffective in individuals with early AMD, AREDS investi- gated 3,500 people with AMD over 10 years and proved efficacy in slowing AMD progression by 25% and slowing visual loss by 19% in persons with intermediate AMD. AREDS2 validated the efficacy of 500 mg vitamin C, 400 IU vitamin E, 80 mg zinc, 2 mg copper, and added 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin to the mix, as an increased intake of these macular carotenoids has been associated with a decreased risk of neovascular AMD and a lower AMD degeneration risk. EW Editors' note: Drs. Holz and Bopp have no financial interests related to their comments. Contact information Bopp: s.bopp@retina.to Holz: Julia.Moroni@ukb.uni-bonn.de stephensinst.com | +1.859.259.4924 Stephens Instruments | 2500 Sandersville Rd | Lexington KY 40511 USA Toll Free ( USA ) 800.354.7848 | Fax 859.259.4926 | info@stephensinst.com © 2016 Stephens Instruments. All rights reserved. LIFETIME WARRANTY 3 0 D A Y N O - R I S K T R I A L ISO 9001 ISO 13485 For more information visit us at AAO 2016 booth #1908 MICROSURE™ FEMTO TORIC S9-2070 S5-1535 ST5-7035 Stephens offers over 1,500 high-grade surgical stainless steel and titanium instruments, every one backed by a 30 day no-risk trial and lifetime warranty. You could pay more for your instruments, but why? Choose Stephens, trusted for over 40 years, and invest the savings in your practice—and your patients. The smart choice. Slowing continued from page 73 " The problem is that clinical trials need a control group, but you can't ethically deny patients with wet AMD anti-VEGF for possibly a 5-year duration, since we know the treatments halt wet progression and even restore vision in some cases. That is why, at the moment, we have more of a clinical impression surrounding neovascular-associated GA, but lack studies to prove it. " –Sylvia Bopp, MD

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