Changes of eye’s functions among patients with age-related macular degeneration during the use of vitamin D medications

Abstract

Aim. To increase the effectiveness of the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), dry form, in postmenopausal women by determining the level of serum vitamin D and correcting its deficiency.

Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of the Department of Ophthalmology at Bogomolets National Medical University, was prospective, case-control, included 88 women (88 eyes) aged 72.0 ± 10.1 years, who were divided into 2 groups: control group – 20 patients (20 eyes) without AMD and study group – 68 patients (68 eyes) with AMD, dry form.

Results. Supplemental vitamin D did not significantly improve visual acuity, but slowed the deterioration of contrast sensitivity. Deficiency of vitamin D is associated with lower visual acuity, negatively affects contrast sensitivity, more strongly than its insufficiency. The results of the treatment in the AREDS-2 + vitamin D group after 12 months showed a probable double increase in the content of 25(OH)D in patients with AMD, dry form (p < 0.05). Visual acuity after 12 months decreased by 7.56 % (from 0.19 ± 0.06 to 0.20 ± 0.06) in women who took only AREDS-2 drugs, and by 6.78 % (from 0.18 ± 0.07 to 0.19 ± 0.08) in the group where vitamin D medications were additionally prescribed (p > 0.05). Logarithmic indicators of contrast sensitivity after treatment had a slight negative trend in both groups, decreased by 2.80 % in women in the AREDS-2 group, and by 2.25 % in women who additionally took vitamin D medications (p > 0.05).

Conclusions. Irreversible vision loss is a global problem with both medical and socioeconomic consequences. Age-related macular degeneration is one of the main diseases that lead to blindness, especially in people over 50 years old. Additional prescription of vitamin D to AREDS-2 may be beneficial in slowing the progression of AMD. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.