The age-related eye disease study (AREDS).

Some of the earliest and best known manifestations of malnutrition involve visual disorders, such as blindness that results from vitamin A deficiency. Interest is now being focused on the role of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of chronic age-related disorders. The Age-related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) was conducted in order to determine whether high-dose supplementation could influence the natural progres sion of eye disease in older Americans. AREDS found that prospective administration of purified vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, zinc, and copper had some benefits for age-related maculopathy, but had virtually no impact on the progression of cataracts.