Clinical Scorecard: No Evidence That AREDS Vitamins Slow Geographic Atrophy Progression

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• Post hoc analysis of OAKS and DERBY trials found no benefit of AREDS or AREDS2 vitamins on GA growth or vision loss.
• Previous post hoc analysis of AREDS and AREDS2 suggested slowed GA growth towards the fovea, but this was not reproducible.
• AREDS vitamins did not modify the effect of pegcetacoplan treatment or influence the development of exudative AMD.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• Use multimodal imaging including fundus autofluorescence to monitor geographic atrophy progression.

Management

• Current evidence does not support AREDS or AREDS2 vitamin supplementation for slowing GA progression.
• Pegcetacoplan remains a treatment option under investigation for GA.

Monitoring & Follow-up

• Regular imaging to assess GA growth, especially towards the fovea, is important for disease monitoring.

Risks

• No increased risk of exudative AMD development was associated with AREDS vitamin supplementation in patients treated with pegcetacoplan.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Patients with geographic atrophy enrolled in OAKS and DERBY clinical trials

AREDS and AREDS2 vitamin supplements showed no measurable benefit in slowing GA progression or enhancing pegcetacoplan effects.

Clinical Best Practices

• Rely on updated imaging modalities such as fundus autofluorescence for accurate GA assessment.
• Interpret post hoc analyses cautiously and prioritize prospective trial data for clinical decision-making.
• Continue research to identify effective oral treatments for geographic atrophy.

References

• 2025 American Society of Retina Specialists Annual Meeting Presentation
• AREDS and AREDS2 Clinical Trials
• OAKS and DERBY Clinical Trials