In fact, Chew said, ophthalmologists should only recommend supplements if an eye exam shows yellow spots in the eye, called drusen, which is a common sign of AMD.
"Only if you have those yellow spots do supplements work for you," said Chew. "You really have to be at that intermediate stage."
The common nutrient in most eye health supplements are antioxidants, because oxidative stress, the damaging effects of reactive oxygen and toxins, is implicated in AMD, as it is in most age-related diseases, and in the aging process itself. Researchers suggest that perhaps antioxidants may help slow the progression of vision loss.
However, other types of antioxidants that are currently marketed as nutritional supplements for eye health are not backed by significant research, many experts said.
"[The AREDS study] is the kind of study we need to actually say that a certain nutrient is good for your eye," said Dr. Timothy Stout, associate professor of ophthalmology at the Casey Eye Institute in Portland, Ore., and a scientific advisor for the nonprofit organization,Prevent Blindness America.
While the science is still out on some of these specific nutrients and their relation to eye health, some eye experts have weighed in on the purported benefits and warning signs of these most popularly marketed supplements:
Bilberry
The claim: Bilberry can improve low light vision and prevent macular degeneration.
The truth: During World War II, Royal Air Force pilots would eat a Bilberry jam to help improve their vision for overnight flights. It is thought that Bilberry is an antioxidant that can help improve night vision, and prevent macular degeneration.
However, just because a supplement is an antioxidant, and some antioxidants may improve eye health, does not mean that antioxidants are a "one size fits all," approach, according to Stout.
"The truth is we just don't know if it does what we're told it does," said Stout. "It could, but we just don't know."
Selenium
The claim: taking a 50 mcg nutritional supplement daily can improve vision.
The truth: According to Chew, selenium is another form of antioxidant that has not yet been studied.
"We do know that we haven't found nutrients that can turn vision loss around completely," said Chew. "So I would be cautious about supplements that say they can protect against an eye disease."
Do you have more information about this topic? If so, please click here to contact the editors of ABC News.
