Do drusen cause AMD?
No, although they are often associated with AMD. Many patients with drusen never get AMD. Q: Do drusen disappear without treatment? A: Sometimes, and very slowly. Q: Can drusen be treated? A: Laser treatments can eliminate drusen. However, several long term studies showed no benefit of treatment. Q: Does hardening of the arteries cause AMD? A: No. Generally speaking, circulation problems have not been shown to have any relation to AMD. Therefore, treatments aimed at improving blood flow have no merit. Q: Does nutrition play any role in the development of AMD? A: The Beaver Dam Eye Study examined the dietary history of people with and without AMD. The study showed that there was slightly less AMD in patients who had diets high in green, leafy vegetables. Spinach consumption had a statistical correlation with less AMD. Kale, turnip greens, mustard greens, and collard greens had a significant but lesser correlation with less AMD. Note that this was not a study of treatment or progression
