If a parent has age-related macular degeneration, should the children take lutein or other prevention?

Other prevention: The main risk factors for macular degeneration are smoking, age, high blood pressure and having minimal pigmentation (blue eyes, blond hair). Supplement for macular degeneration have only proven to be preventative when certain levels of damage already exist. Before that, use sunglasses, eat healthily, exercise and don't smoke.

Yes: Having a parent with macular degeneration does not mean you will get the disease. Genetics does play a role as does age , nutritional status and uv exposure history. Since you can't change your family history and i assume you want to get older, take a multivitamin with lutein, wear sunglasses and eat green leafy vegetables.

No evidence: Most of the risk of developing amd is genetically determined. There is no evidence that taking supplements prior to developing the signs of amd will prevent it from developing. Furthermore, recent areds ii study results showed that lutein was not more effective than original areds formula.