Age-related macular degeneration: how important is vitamin D?

Vitamin D deficiencies in the dock. Staurenghi: “There is not enough evidence.”

Age-related macular degeneration (DMLE), or age-related macular degeneration, is a disorder that affects the retina.

It causes a reduction in the functionality of the central area of the retina, called the macula, up to a possible loss of central vision.

Among the symptoms, an “alarm bell” is a distorted view in the area in the center of the visual field. The causes are not yet well known, but among the risk factors, in addition to age, there is cigarette smoking.

There are two forms of macular degeneration typical of old age: the dry (or atrophic) form and the wet (or exudative) form.

The dry form, the most common, is characterized by a progressive thinning of the central retina, poorly nourished by the capillaries. The result is its atrophy and the limitation of vision.

The wet form, less frequent, involves the formation of new capillaries very fragile in the area. This condition can cause retinal bleeding and consequent central vision loss.

It is very important, therefore, to undergo periodic eye examinations after the age of 55. It is also good to consult a specialist when you notice any unusual change in normal vision.

There are also specific tests to detect macular degeneration: OCT allows you to visualize the individual layers of the retina. While with fluorescein angiography it is possible to “photograph” the blood circulation in the area involved in the disease. Based on the outcome of the examinations, the ophthalmologist establishes the most suitable therapies.

Nutrition and lifestyles

A healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet also help keep your eyes “fit”. While cigarettes, as we have mentioned, are a known predisposing factor to the onset of the disease.

Research is also questioning the involvement of vitamin D in the ocular function of the elderly. But until now there has been no consensus among specialists on the existence of a possible association between vitamin D levels in the blood and the onset of DMLE.

A study, published in the scientific journal Jama Ophtalmology in 2015, indicated that a vitamin D deficiency could increase the risk of developing AMD up to seven times. According to the American survey, the connection is evident in the event that there is a genetic predisposition. More than 900 menopausal women participated in the research.

Other studies go in the opposite direction, in the sense that they have not found a correlation between this vitamin and the disease. Giovanni Staurenghi, director of the Ophthalmology Clinic at the Sacco Hospital and director of the School of Specialty in Ophthalmology of the University of Milan, says: “From the literature data there does not seem to be a correlation between vitamin D and age-related macular degeneration”. Further investigations are therefore needed to clarify the matter.