AREDS2 Eye Supplements: Who Were They Studied For?

By RefineNutrition.org Editorial Team. Sources checked October 5, 2026. This article is educational and does not recommend, review, or sell any product.

The short answer

The AREDS2 trial enrolled people ages 50 to 85 who already had intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in both eyes, or intermediate AMD in one eye and advanced AMD in the other. The National Eye Institute (NEI) says the AREDS and AREDS2 formulas benefited people with intermediate or late AMD, with no benefit for people with early AMD or people who do not have AMD.

So if an eye doctor has not told you that you have AMD, the trial results are not a reason to expect a benefit for you. If you do have AMD, which stage you have and whether a supplement fits that stage are questions for your eye care provider. Below is who the trials covered, what common label wording does and does not match, and what to ask.

Who was actually in the trials

• The original AREDS trial: 4,757 participants, ages 55 to 80 at enrollment. It found the formulation did not benefit people with no AMD or early AMD (NEI FAQ).
• AREDS2: 4,203 participants, ages 50 to 85. Because of the earlier finding, it was limited to people with intermediate AMD in both eyes, or intermediate AMD in one eye and advanced AMD in the other (NEI FAQ).
• Long-term follow-up: NIH reported in June 2022 that researchers followed 3,883 of the 4,203 AREDS2 participants for five more years after the study period ended in 2011 (NIH news release).

People under 50 were outside both age ranges.

Trial population versus label claim

Supplement labels use many phrases. Here is what the NEI sources do and do not say about common ones. These are examples of wording to look for, not quotes from any product.

• “AREDS2 formula” or “based on AREDS2”: The NEI lists the AREDS2 amounts as vitamin C 500 mg, vitamin E 400 IU, copper 2 mg, zinc 80 mg, lutein 10 mg, and zeaxanthin 2 mg, with no beta-carotene. NEI advises checking that a product's ingredient list matches those amounts exactly. NEI says it cannot comment on the safety or effectiveness of any specific brand.
• “Supports eye health” or “supports vision”: The trials enrolled people with AMD. NEI reports no benefit for people with early AMD or no AMD.
• “Prevents” or “protects against” macular degeneration: NEI states that nutritional supplements cannot prevent AMD. The formulas may delay progression from intermediate to advanced AMD.
• “Reduces screen strain” or “blocks blue light”: The NEI sources cited below describe results for AMD progression and cataract. They do not describe results for eye strain or screen use.
• “Better than a multivitamin” or “more than diet alone”: NEI says a daily multivitamin alone cannot provide the same vision benefit, because the trial doses were much higher. Most participants also took multivitamins during the trials. NEI also says diet alone has difficulty reaching those levels.
• “Lutein and zeaxanthin”: In AREDS2 these were tested as part of the full formula, in place of beta-carotene. NEI reports an 18% lower risk of progressing to advanced AMD in the group that took the formula with lutein and zeaxanthin than in the group that took it with beta-carotene.
• “Omega-3 fish oil”: AREDS2 found that adding omega-3s to the AREDS formulation had no additional overall effect on the risk of advanced AMD.

Who should not assume a benefit

• People with no AMD diagnosis. NEI reports no benefit in this group.
• People with early AMD. NEI says these supplements cannot keep early AMD from becoming intermediate. It recommends a dilated eye exam at least once a year so your doctor can track changes.
• People with late AMD in both eyes. NEI says the supplements probably will not help. Low vision resources can. If you have wet AMD, other treatments may be available.
• Anyone hoping to prevent AMD. See the label-claim list above.
• People outside the enrolled ages. AREDS2 enrolled adults ages 50 to 85, and the original AREDS enrolled adults ages 55 to 80. These sources do not test the supplements outside those ranges.

If you have late AMD in only one eye, NEI says the supplements may slow progression in the other eye. That is a decision for your eye doctor.

Limits worth knowing before you decide

• Beta-carotene and smoking. The older AREDS formula contains beta-carotene, which NEI says can raise lung cancer risk in people who smoke or used to smoke. In AREDS2, lung cancer occurred in 2% of people taking the beta-carotene version and 0.9% of those taking the version without it. About 91% of those who developed lung cancer were former smokers. NIH's 10-year follow-up reported that beta-carotene nearly doubled lung cancer risk among people who had ever smoked. AREDS2-style formulas do not contain beta-carotene.
• Medication interactions. NEI says these supplements contain very large amounts of vitamins and minerals and can change how other medicines work. Vitamin E can interact with blood thinners, chemotherapy drugs, and lipid-lowering drugs.
• Zinc dose. AREDS2 had no placebo group. Participants could choose the original formula or be assigned a modified one, such as 25 mg zinc, and investigators found no difference between 80 mg and 25 mg. NEI still calls the placebo-controlled original AREDS the gold standard. Do not change a dose on your own. Ask your doctor.
• Cataracts. NEI reports no effect on cataract in the original AREDS. In AREDS2, one subgroup, people with the lowest dietary lutein and zeaxanthin, had a 32% reduction in progression to cataract surgery.
• Genetic testing. NEI does not recommend genetic testing to decide whether these supplements are right for you. A comprehensive dilated eye exam is the best way to assess AMD risk.

Questions to bring to your eye doctor

1. What stage of AMD do I have in each eye?
2. Do the AREDS2 results apply to my stage?
3. Do I need a formula with lutein and zeaxanthin instead of beta-carotene, given my smoking history?
4. Do any of my medications or supplements interact with high-dose vitamin E or zinc?
5. If I take a supplement, is the dose on the label the one you want me to take?
6. How often should I have a dilated eye exam?
7. Are there other treatments I should know about for my type of AMD?

What you can do next

Start with a comprehensive dilated eye exam, because that is how AMD is diagnosed and staged. Make a complete list of your medications, vitamins, and supplements to bring with you. If you are curious about diet, NEI notes that earlier studies suggested people with diets rich in green, leafy vegetables, a source of lutein and zeaxanthin, have a lower risk of developing AMD.

Searching for screen-related eye comfort instead? That is a different question from the one AREDS2 studied. Our article on eye health supplements in a digital world discusses screen-related eye strain. More on this topic is in our Eye Health section.

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Talk with your doctor or eye care provider before starting any supplement.

Sources

• National Eye Institute, AREDS/AREDS2 Frequently Asked Questions (page last updated November 19, 2020; checked October 5, 2026). Supports the participant numbers, age ranges, eligibility, formula amounts, the beta-carotene and lung cancer data, vitamin E interactions, zinc and placebo notes, cataract findings, multivitamin and diet statements, and genetic testing.
• National Eye Institute, AREDS 2 Supplements for Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) (page last updated June 22, 2021; checked October 5, 2026). Supports the stage-by-stage guidance, annual dilated exam advice, and label-check advice.
• National Institutes of Health, NIH study confirms benefit of supplements for slowing age-related macular degeneration (news release dated June 2, 2022; checked October 5, 2026). Supports the 10-year follow-up numbers and the beta-carotene finding for people who had ever smoked.