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- Have you noticed difficulty in reading or watching television?
- Has the act of driving become more difficult?
- Are you having trouble seeing your loved ones' faces clearly?
View LAST Study Research Visual Improvement Charts
While you may chalk it up to advancing age, you may actually be experiencing the onset of a serious and unfortunately, very common condition known as… Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
 What is Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?
The center of the eye's retina, known as the macula, provides central vision and allows you to see in fine detail. The macula measures about 1/8" by 1/12" (about the size of this capital letter "O"). AMD targets the macula, thus blurring the sharp, central vision required for "straight-ahead" activities, including reading, driving, fine work, recognizing faces, and watching television. AMD, while debilitating, is not painful.
AMD affects more than 10 million Americans, making it the leading cause of blindness for those aged 55 and older. To put this into perspective: AMD affects more people than cataracts AND glaucoma combined. However, as the macula is broken down, various levels of vision loss and even total blindness may occur.
There is currently no cure or treatment for AMD. The effects of AMD can range from a slow, subtle advance, to a quick attack, and total vision loss in both eyes. Vision loss usually occurs gradually and generally affects both eyes at different rates.
However, the first indicator may be if you or your eye doctor notices that your vision is declining during a routine eye exam. Because it's possible to treat AMD patients with nutritional supplementation before the symptoms appear, early detection of AMD is crucial. This early detection may delay or even reduce the diseases' severity.
Certain tell-tale signs may also appear, such as drusen, which are yellow deposits under the retina. Drusen can usually be detected by an eye care professional during a comprehensive dilated eye exam, and it's only those eyes having large drusen that are at risk for AMD. Other warning signs may include: the appearance of a dark, blurry area or "white-out" in the center of vision; straight lines appearing distorted; the perception of color diminishing or changing; and, in some cases, the visual center appearing to be more distorted than the rest of the scene.
"Dry" AMD
There are actually two forms of AMD: "Dry" AMD, is the more common form, affecting approximately 85-90% of people with AMD. "Wet" AMD is the advanced and more severe form. The focus of the Lutein Antioxidant Supplementation Trial (LAST) was to study the potential benefits of the nutrient lutein and other antioxidants in the dry form. Results from the LAST study will be discussed later in this article.
Dry (also known as atrophic) AMD occurs when the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down, gradually blurring central vision in the affected eye. This leads to a growing blurred spot in the center of your vision, which is the most common symptom. If you notice that you need extra light for reading and other tasks, or if you find it harder to recognize faces, you may be developing dry AMD. There may also be the development of drusen under the retina, which is common in those over the age of 60.
While it usually affects both eyes, dry AMD may target one eye, while leaving the other one unaffected. There may not be any noticeable changes in overall vision in those affected by dry AMD in only one eye. If you have one unaffected eye, you will still be able to see fine detail, read and drive. In fact, dry AMD patients may still have good central vision (20/40 or better). However, they may suffer from a variety of functional limitations, including: limited night vision, limited vision as a result of reduced light, fluctuating vision, or difficulty reading, due to limited central vision.
Noticeable vision changes are usually only detected when dry AMD affects both eyes. If you begin to notice visual blurriness, you should receive a comprehensive dilated eye exam from an eye care professional. Dry AMD has three stages, each of which may affect one or both of your eyes:
- Early AMD: In this stage, there is no vision loss or symptoms. Several small drusen or a few medium-sized drusen may be detectable at this stage.
- Intermediate AMD: During this stage, patients may start seeing a blurred spot in the center of their vision. It's also likely that additional light may be needed for reading and other tasks. There may also be many medium-sized drusen or one or more large drusen detectable.
- Advanced Dry AMD: In this final stage, aside from additional drusen, patients may experience a breakdown of light-sensitive cells and supporting tissue in the central retinal area. A blurred spot in the center of your vision may appear, and it may grow bigger and darker over time. It may also become difficult to read or recognize faces, unless they're very near.
There is Hope
While there is no cure or treatment for AMD at this time, there may be hope on the horizon. The LAST study has spotlighted the apparent ability of the vision-supportive supplement known as OcuPower®. This patented formula is a best-selling multi-vitamin within the Nutraceutical Sciences Institute® (NSI®) brand.
OcuPower has garnered great renown for improving vision with patients that suffer from AMD. Another great result of the LAST study indicated OcuPower patients showed a trend towards reduced risk of death and major cardiovascular problems.
 OcuPower has been formulated with high levels of a special standardized form of lutein - at many times more than we get in the average diet or store-bought once-a-day multi-vitamins. OcuPower functions very effectively as an everyday multi-vitamin, both for vision care and general health. This formula boasts 39 essential and powerful vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients & amino acids -- including Betatene®, Ester-C®, vitamins A, E and B-Complex, alpha lipoic acid, and lycopene. And as a result of the LAST study, OcuPower has the distinction of appearing in the April, 2004 edition of Optometry, Journal of the American Optometric Association.
As the LAST study has shown, OcuPower provides benefits to people suffering from AMD. However, before we discuss these findings, we must discuss the study itself, and what it can mean to you, your friends and your family.
Download the complete study: Veterans LAST study (Lutein Antioxidant Supplementation Trial)
About The Lutein Antioxidant Supplementation Trial (LAST)
As we stated earlier, AMD is the leading cause of blindness in those over the age of 55. As of yet, there is no cure for AMD, but there has been some encouraging news, in the form of two clinical studies. In fact, one supplement, NSI's OcuPower, has demonstrated dramatic success in alleviating the vision loss brought on by AMD.
A prior study, the Age-Related Macular Degeneration Study (AREDS), involved supplementing AMD patients with a combination of beta-carotene, high-dose zinc, and vitamins C and E. But while this combination slowed visual loss and the progression to advanced AMD in a small minority of patients, there were typically no visual improvements. But that's where the lutein antioxidant supplementation trial (LAST) comes into play.
Low lutein intake is a major risk factor for advanced AMD. In fact, despite lutein's occurrence as a natural molecule in spinach, kale, collard greens and other dark green and leafy vegetables, Americans receive woefully low amounts of the molecule lutein, with the average person receiving only 1-2 mg daily. The LAST study was designed to evaluate lutein's effects -- either alone, or as a more complete nutritional supplement, combined with additional carotenoids, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals (a combination known as "L/A," in the form of NSI's OcuPower).
Lutein
The primary carotenoid (a group of naturally occurring, fat-soluble pigments found in plants) in the macula, lutein is thought to serve as a filter, shielding the macula from damaging forms of light. These light forms can penetrate the macular pigment found in the eye, thus harming the retina. Lutein has therefore developed a reputation as a defense against AMD.
Recent studies have found that those people who have more lutein-containing foods in their diet - spinach, collard greens, kale, leeks, peas, romaine lettuce, and egg yolks -- appear to be at lower risk for developing AMD. In fact, one study found that adults with the highest dietary intake of lutein had a 57% decreased risk of AMD, compared with those with the lowest intake. Lutein and another antioxidant carotenoid, zeaxanthin, are most strongly associated with this dietary protection, and are found in the same foods.
Zeaxanthin
Like lutein, the nutrient zeaxanthin may also be responsible for shielding the eye from harmful light. Zeaxanthin also helps the eye to repair itself, and shields the sensitive cells. It has been shown that the area of the macula with the highest zeaxanthin concentration is the last to degenerate. The macula contains large quantities of lutein and zeaxanthin. These quantities are so high that they appear as a dark yellow spot, called the macular pigment. The measurement of macular pigment is known as macular pigment optical density (MPOD), and is one of the most accurate signals of AMD risk.
The LAST Participants
The LAST study - which was randomized, double-masked and placebo-controlled -- was conducted at Veterans Administration Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, from August 1999 to May 2001. The study involved ninety dry AMD participants, who were referred by ophthalmologists in the Chicago area.
The participants were randomly assigned to 3 groups: group 1 L (hereafter referred to as the "lutein-only group") had 29 members, group 2 L/A ("the OcuPower group") had 30, and group 3 P ("the placebo group") had 31. The participants received serial eye examinations after 4, 8, and 12 months. They were then given the appropriate nutrients, depending on their assigned group.
The lutein-only group received lutein 10 mg (in the form of FloraGlo®); the OcuPower group received lutein 10 mg, plus additional nutrients and antioxidants (in the form of Nutraceutical Sciences Institute's (NSI) patented OcuPower, a lutein/antioxidants/vitamins and minerals broad spectrum supplementation formula); and the placebo group received maltodextrin. Over the course of the study, the subjects were encouraged to follow their usual diet.
Findings of LAST
The results of the LAST study were very encouraging. Visual function improved for both the lutein-only and the OcuPower groups, while the placebo group experienced no significant changes. Above all else, LAST was designed to evaluate the effects of lutein - either combined with additional carotenoids and antioxidants/minerals including zinc (as OcuPower), or alone - on the visual outcome measures of dry AMD.
The lutein-only and the OcuPower groups both showed improvement for near visual acuity. Acuity is the ability to detect fine details or small distances. Both groups were both found to have significantly improved in contrast sensitivity function (CSF), which identifies retinal problems at an earlier stage than is possible with conventional testing. However, it was found that the OcuPower group had a broader effect, when it came to various measures of visual quality.
The OcuPower group proved to have more benefits than lutein or placebo in several fields. In the area of glare recovery - which is how fast normal vision returns after you see a glare -- it was shown that the OcuPower group had a 34.7 second mean eye quicker glare recovery, which was the fastest among the 3 groups.
In macular pigment optical density (MPOD), the OcuPower group increased by 43%, as compared to the 36% level of improvement for the lutein-only group. MPOD is the amount of lutein and zeaxanthin in the macula, and is one of the most accurate signals of AMD risk.
Lutein's Contributions to the LAST Study
The OcuPower used in the LAST study contains the optimal amount and a special form of lutein, which is thought to be one of the reasons for the improved vision levels. It is also thought that the lutein's antioxidative properties may have been responsible for the improvements in distortions and blind spots among the LAST study participants. Additionally, the improvements made in regards to scotomas (missing areas within the visual field) and metamorphopsias (distortions of visual images within the visual field) may have been due to the presence of mesozeaxanthin, a chemical compound of lutein.
The LAST study may have brought other findings concerning lutein to the forefront. We now know that the lutein in LAST resulted in increased MPOD, improved glare recovery, improved vision quality, visual acuity, and positive effects regarding scotomas and metamorphopsias. But when combined with the findings of other studies, it appears that lutein may also protect the retina and preserve visual function in healthy, elderly men and women without AMD.
Side Effects and Benefits of LAST
The study recorded no significant differences in minor side effects among all 3 groups. The OcuPower group's 30 patients displayed no major cardiovascular events - angioplasty, myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary artery bypass surgery, or sudden death - and no deaths from any other causes. This group by far had the fewest side effects, both minor and major. Further, there was a trend towards reduced mortality and major cardiovascular problems in this group. NSI's doctors believe this is not by chance but due to the fact OcuPower has 39 nutrients, many of which are critical for promoting a healthy cardiovascular system.
Of the lutein-only group's 29 patients, two patients had angioplasties, one patient had a stroke, and one patient died from pneumonia and cerebrovascular disease (dealing with the flow of blood in the brain, and including such conditions as acute stroke and conditions that may lead to stroke, like aneurysms.) The placebo group's 31 patients included one patient having an angioplasty, and two deaths - one from metastatic adenocarcinoma ("adenocarcinoma" is a broad category of cellular cancers), and one from cardiac arrest.
Explaining the Results
Why are the results of the LAST study so important? Well, lutein is an essential carotenoid that is not naturally produced by the body. Therefore, therapeutic amounts and maintenance may be necessary to benefit patients with dry AMD. The LAST study showed that both lutein and lutein with antioxidants resulted in increased macula pigment and improved visual function. OcuPower produced significantly better improvements in contrast sensitivity (vision quality). According to researchers, lutein, together with a broad spectrum of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals (OcuPower) may be a very effective nutritional supplement for patients with AMD.
Even though the OcuPower group recorded no progression of AMD to an advanced stage, further studies will need to be conducted to include a broader range of factors, such as: race, gender, quality of vision, and subject availability, in addition to a longer duration study.
Conclusion
The LAST study has been hailed as a great achievement in AMD research. There is now documented proof that certain nutrients can have a beneficial effect on the encroaching blindness that is so common. Faced with the possibility of blindness, any positive news is welcome. The group that took OcuPower displayed tangible and beneficial results, and visual improvement was documented.
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