Inflammation Marker Linked to Eye Deterioration
 (HealthDayNews, 2/10/04)

When Dr. Johanna M. Seddon of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and team, analyzed data from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study, which has been tracking about 5,000 adults over age 55 for several years, they found that high blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) was associated with degeneration of the macula, the central portion of the of the retina that transmits signals from the eye to the brain. CRP is a systemic marker for inflammation that has already been linked to other degenerative conditions, like cardiovascular disease. The study showed that subjects with the most acute macular degeneration had significantly higher CRP levels, but future research will have to determine whether CRP causes the eye condition and whether antioxidant supplementation can counteract it.