A study reported on July 10, 2023, in Ophthalmology and Therapy determined that the carotenoid zeaxanthin helped older individuals with unilateral neovascular age-related macular degeneration (“wet” AMD in one eye) from developing neovascular AMD in the other eye. Because this nutrient is less expensive than other treatments and the therapy was found to improve quality of life and reduce the risk of premature mortality, it was projected that this use of zeaxanthin could save billions of dollars.¹

The macula is a spot near the center of the eyes’ retina that is needed for clear, distinct vision. Dry AMD is characterized by the accumulation of cellular debris known as drusen between the retina and the choroid behind the retina. In about 10% of cases, dry AMD progresses to wet AMD, a more serious form of the disease characterized by abnormal growth of blood vessels into the retina that can bleed, resulting in bulging of the macula, visual impairment, and blindness.²

“[Intake of] zeaxanthin to prevent fellow-eye neovascular AMD is extremely cost-effective by conventional US standards, returns monies to society, and likely prevents loss of life-years from poorer vision,” authors Gary C. Brown and colleagues concluded.

The study followed 227 men and women with wet AMD in one eye and dry AMD in the other, who consumed 20 mg of zeaxanthin daily for at least five years in addition to standard therapy. After five years, 22% had developed neovascular AMD in the eye with dry AMD. These results were compared with data from a five-year trial of two AMD drugs, in which 48% of the participants experienced conversion to neovascular AMD in the other eye.

The researchers estimated that if all patients in the U.S. with neovascular AMD in one eye during 2020 received zeaxanthin, the net savings would amount to $6 billion dollars during a period of 11 years and would result in a 1,531% return on investment on the cost of zeaxanthin.