AREDS and AREDS2 formulas are nutritional supplements that reduce the risk of progressing to advance age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The formulas are based on the NEI-funded Age-Related Eye Diseases Studies (AREDS and AREDS2).

AMD or age-related macular degeneration is a problem in your eyes that can cause blindness or missing regions in Central region. It is considered as the leading cause of vision loss and blindness among older people.

AREDS and AREDS2 formulas combine daily high those vitamins and minerals. When you take these vitamins and minerals, they will slow the possibility of AMD.

Who benefit from AREDS and AREDS2 supplements?

These supplements can offer benefits to people who have intermediate AMD in one or both eyes and also benefit people who have late AMD in only one eye. When you use AREDS and AREDS2 supplements, they can reduce your risk of late AMD. But what happens if you already have late AMD in one eye? Even in that case, you need to take these supplements so that you can lower the possibility of getting late AMD in your other eye.

AREDS was the first large scale clinical trial to find out the efficacy of high those antioxidants on the progression of AMD. It found that higher intake of antioxidants and zinc lowered the risk of disease progression by 25%. AREDS2 is the five-year trial where more than 4000 subjects were evaluated who had intermediate AMD. The study was done to find out if 10mg lutein, 2mg zeaxanthin and/or 1,000mg omega-3 long-chain fatty acids (350mg DHA and 650mg EPA) were added to the original AREDS formulation, would it further reduce the risk of progression to advanced AMD. AREDS2 is the new research and study done on the subject.

What vitamins and minerals are there in AREDS2 supplements?

Nutrient                                               AREDS2 formula

Vitamin C                                             500 mg

Vitamin E                                             Beta-carotene   15 mg    –

Copper (cupric oxide)                    2 mg

Lutein                                                   10 mg

Zeaxanthin                                         2 mg

Zinc                                                        80 mg

Even though these nutrients can be found in different foods but AREDS2 contains these nutrients in higher amounts, at which level you cannot get the nutrients through diet alone. However, if you consume greener, leafy vegetables which are a good source of lutein and zeaxanthin, then you will get some of the necessary nutrients. You need a good AREDS2 supplement to get all these nutrients which will help you to prevent progression of AMD.

There are many multivitamins available that contain similar nutrients as the AREDS/ AREDS2 supplements but only the AREDS/ AREDS2 formulas are effective in slowing down AMD. These multivitamins may not have the nutrients at the higher level prescribed in AREDS/ AREDS2 formulas. AREDS2 formula can definitely provide a benefit over and above multivitamins.

If you're looking for a good quality AREDS2 formula supplement, then try PreserVision AREDS 2 Vitamin & Mineral Supplement 120 Count Soft Gels. This is the latest PreserVision formula. It is built on the original, clinically proven PreserVision AREDS Formula, with Lutein and Zeaxanthin replacing beta-carotene based on the AREDS 2 study.

This advanced PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula contains the exact same level of all six nutrients based on the latest clinical evidence from the AREDS 2 study. PreserVision Eye Vitamin AREDS 2 Formula is based on the original Bausch + Lomb PreserVision Eye Vitamin AREDS Formula, and is a high potency antioxidant supplement with select vitamins and minerals, at levels well above those in ordinary multivitamins and generally not attainable through diet alone.