Dr. Richer, a noted authority on nutrition and vision, is also finding that a nutrient called lutein, found in spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables, can actually reverse ARMD in its very early stages. ARMD is the leading cause of blindness among older Americans. It affects 10 million people today. The National Eye Institute estimates that the number could rise to 18 million by 2030. ARMD destroys the macula, the most sensitive part of the retina, which contains millions of nerve cells needed for seeing.
Victims lose their central vision but retain their side vision.
The wet form of ARMD can often be successfully treated with laser therapy, if treatment is initiated when symptoms are first noticed. But the dry form, which affects 9 out of 10 people with ARMD, has long been thought to be untreatable. Dr. Richer's current pilot study with six patients is changing that thinking. Excited about his early findings, he has submitted them for publication in the Journal of the American Optometric Association. He expects a controlled clinical trial study will follow.