AIM: To study the effect of lutein intervention on visual function of patients with early age-related macular degeneration(AMD).

METHODS: Totally 200 early AMD patients were divided into lutein intervention group(20mg/d)and placebo group by a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trail. Questionnaire investigation, serum lutein concentration and visual function were conducted at baseline, 12, 24, 36 and 48wk respectively.

RESULTS: The serum lutein concentration in lutein intervention group was higher than the baseline(P<0.05)and those of placebo group at 12, 24, 36 and 48wk after intervention(P<0.05). The spatial frequencies of contrast sensitivity(CS)at low(3 cycles/degree)and medium(6 cycles/degree)in lutein intervention group, macular pigment optical density(MPOD)and best-spectacle corrected visual acuity(BCVA)were higher than those of placebo group(P<0.05). Contrasted to baseline, the low and medium spatial frequencies of CS in lutein intervention group were higher(P<0.05), while, there were no statistical significance in MPOD and BCVA between before and after treatment(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Lutein intervention can improve the visual function of patients with early AMD.