Model study of AREDS antioxidant supplementation of AMD compared to Visudyne: a dominant strategy?

Objectives: In Ontario, Canada, in a cohort of all people initially aged 50-54 years, modeling whether the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) antioxidant supplementation for stage 3 and 4 AMD would decrease the costs of photodynamic treatment with Visudyne.

Perspective: Third party payer, the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.

Methods: Using reported risk reductions, prevalence data by age and sex from the Beaver Dam studies, and yearly costs: AREDS 182.

Cataract surgery and the 5-year incidence of late-stage age-related maculopathy: pooled findings from the Beaver Dam and Blue Mountains eye studies.

Purpose: To assess whether cataract surgery in older persons increases risk for the development of late-stage age-related maculopathy (ARM).

Design: Combined analysis of longitudinal data from two population-based cohorts, the Beaver Dam Eye Study and Blue Mountains Eye Study.

Participants: The Beaver Dam Eye Study examined 4926 persons aged 43 years or older at baseline and re-examined 3684 after 5 years.