What do systematic reviews say?

Beta‐carotene vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether beta‐carotene changes geographic atrophy compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for preventing age‐related macular degeneration 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.31 [0.03, 2.93]
  1 study · 941 participants
  Very low

Vitamin C vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for preventing age‐related macular degeneration 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Multivitamin vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for preventing age‐related macular degeneration 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Vitamin E vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether vitamin E changes geographic atrophy compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for preventing age‐related macular degeneration 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.71 [0.28, 26]
  1 study · 941 participants
  Very low

Fenretinide vs placebo

• Visual cycle modulators versus placebo or observation for the prevention and treatment of geographic atrophy due to… 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 142 participants
  Low

Emixustat vs placebo

• Visual cycle modulators versus placebo or observation for the prevention and treatment of geographic atrophy due to… 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 503 participants
  Low

Summary of findings table: photocoagulation of drusen vs control

Summary of findings table: photocoagulation of drusen showed no clear difference in development of geographic atrophy compared with control (low certainty).

• Laser treatment of drusen to prevent progression to advanced age‐related macular degeneration 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.3 [0.38, 4.51]
  2 studies · 148 participants
  Low

Fenretinide vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Visual cycle modulators versus placebo or observation for the prevention and treatment of geographic atrophy due to… 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Emixustat vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Visual cycle modulators versus placebo or observation for the prevention and treatment of geographic atrophy due to… 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Vitamin C vs placebo

Vitamin C showed no clear difference in late AMD (either neovascular AMD or geographic atrophy or both) compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for preventing age‐related macular degeneration 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.94 [0.61, 1.46]
  1 study · 14236 participants
  Moderate

Vitamin E vs placebo

Vitamin E showed no clear difference in late AMD (either neovascular AMD or geographic atrophy or both) compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for preventing age‐related macular degeneration 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.22 [0.89, 1.67]
  4 studies · 55614 participants
  Moderate

Beta‐carotene vs placebo

Beta‐carotene showed no clear difference in late AMD (either neovascular AMD or geographic atrophy or both) compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for preventing age‐related macular degeneration 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.9 [0.65, 1.24]
  2 studies · 22083 participants
  Moderate