4. Discussion
age-related degenerative eye diseases, eye disorder, myopia, ocular pathologies, glaucoma, MP
EYE DISORDER, MYOPIA, RETINAL DETACHMENT, GLAUCOMA, COMPLICATIONS
In this RCT, we evaluated the effects of lutein supplementation on MPOD. We observed that lutein supplementation significantly increased the MPOD level over 6 months and might be beneficial in preventing the loss of macular pigments in patients with HM having <28.25 mm of AL. To our knowledge, this is the first prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to confirm the clinical efficacy and safety of lutein administration in HM patients.HM is a clinical risk factor of serious ocular complications. The complications increase proportionally with an increase in AL.A decrease in MP is related to functional abnormalities of the macula, which eventually lead to age-related degenerative eye diseases.Although myopia is not often considered a serious eye disorder because vision can be easily corrected with glasses or contact lenses, it increases the risk of other ocular pathologies, such as glaucoma, retinal detachment, and lacquer cracks.This study had several limitations. First, the intervention time was relatively short (6 months) and was performed using a single dosing strategy. Long-term observation is needed to determine the functional effect of lutein because HM usually occurs in childhood and gradually develops over the long term, sometimes even >50 years. However, it is uncertain whether a higher dosing strategy would provide greater benefits. A previous trial illustrated the role of nutritional supplementation in maintaining lutein levels in the blood and MPOD, and clarified its safety in normal subjects.