HERBAL MEDICINE IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION: ASSESSING THE VALUE OF HERBAL THERAPIES.

This article focuses on the assessment of herbal medicines and nutritional supplements in the treatment and prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of irreversible blindness in older adults. It highlights that while the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) and AREDS2 provide robust evidence supporting specific antioxidant and zinc supplements to slow AMD progression, there is insufficient large-scale, long-term clinical evidence to confirm the efficacy of various herbal supplements such as Ginkgo biloba, bilberry, quercetin, saffron, turmeric, green tea, and goji berry. The article emphasizes the need for further rigorous research to establish the potential benefits and clinical roles of these herbal therapies in AMD management. Current standard treatments focus on slowing disease progression, particularly through intravitreal injections for advanced forms of AMD.