Early AMD in one eye/intermediate or advanced (wet or geographic atrophy) in the other eye
AREDS: showed reduction of risk of developing advanced AMD over 5 years.
Notes
- Stages: In order to simplify the results of these studies, we have ‘stretched’ the stage assignments from how they were actually done in the studies. For example, in AREDS, they looked at the lead/most advanced eye & assigned the participant that stage. So someone with one eye at the intermediate stage & the other with no AMD, early AMD or intermediate AMD would be assigned the intermediate stage. AREDS2 used a slightly different method.
- Source of supplements: There are many ‘eye vitamins’ sold as AREDS or AREDS2 but they do not all have the exact ingredients that were a result of the extensive AREDS & AREDS2 research (see References section below for full study articles).
- Importance of reading the labels: The ingredients & dosages from AREDS were antioxidants 400 IUs of Vitamin E, 500 mg of Vitamin C and 15 mg beta carotene. Beta carotene was found to be linked to lung cancer in smokers so for that and other reasons, AREDS2 removed the beta carotene & used 10 mg Lutein and 2 mg Zeaxanthin. The formulations from both studies included zinc (because of zinc, copper was also included), 80 mg in AREDS and both 80 mg and 25 mg zinc in AREDS2. It was these exact ingredients that produced positive results (“showed reduction of risk of developing advanced AMD”) so read the labels of any products carefully to make sure they match the study formulation as closely as possible. There are 2 webpages in References below that compare selected products.
- Warning about zinc: Several years ago, warnings were issued about the high dose of zinc in the study formulations (80mg). Those warnings were confirmed by 2018 research that found that 15% of patients with a specific combination of genetic risk variants nearly tripled their risk of developing wet AMD when treated with the AREDS formulation with 80mg zinc instead of a placebo. For more information about genetic testing, see References below.
References
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Early AMD in both eyes
Only studied in AREDS. Not enough participants to generate a recommendation. Perhaps results of Awh, Zanke and Kustra (2017) may apply but it has not yet been studied. The study found that those with a specific genetic makeup may be harmed by taking the antioxidants (no zinc). See reference below.
There were no participants with early AMD in AREDS2. Some eye doctors recommend that those with early AMD in both eyes take the AREDS or AREDS2 supplements. Please make sure that you discuss the benefits versus the risks (ie, interactions with other medications and/or supplements) with your eye doctor. If you decide to take the supplements, please read the notes below and talk to your medical doctor about them.
- Stages: In order to simplify the results of these studies, we have ‘stretched’ the stage assignments from how they were actually done in the studies. For example, in AREDS, they looked at the lead/most advanced eye & assigned the participant that stage. So someone with one eye at the intermediate stage & the other with no AMD, early AMD or intermediate AMD would be assigned the intermediate stage. AREDS2 used a slightly different method.
- Source of supplements: There are many ‘eye vitamins’ sold as AREDS or AREDS2 but they do not all have the exact ingredients that were a result of the extensive AREDS & AREDS2 research (see References section below for full study articles).
- Importance of reading the labels: The ingredients & dosages from AREDS were antioxidants 400 IUs of Vitamin E, 500 mg of Vitamin C and 15 mg beta carotene. Beta carotene was found to be linked to lung cancer in smokers so for that and other reasons, AREDS2 removed the beta carotene & used 10 mg Lutein and 2 mg Zeaxanthin. The formulations from both studies included zinc (because of zinc, copper was also included), 80 mg in AREDS and both 80 mg and 25 mg zinc in AREDS2. It was these exact ingredients that produced positive results (“showed reduction of risk of developing advanced AMD”) so read the labels of any products carefully to make sure they match the study formulation as closely as possible. There are 2 webpages in References below that compare selected products.
- Warning about zinc: Several years ago, warnings were issued about the high dose of zinc in the study formulations (80mg). Those warnings were confirmed by 2018 research that found that 15% of patients with a specific combination of genetic risk variants nearly tripled their risk of developing wet AMD when treated with the AREDS formulation with 80mg zinc instead of a placebo. For more information about genetic testing, see References below.
References
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Intermediate or advanced (wet or geographic atrophy) in one eye/No AMD the other eye
AREDS: showed reduction of risk of developing advanced AMD over 5 years.
Notes
- Stages: In order to simplify the results of these studies, we have ‘stretched’ the stage assignments from how they were actually done in the studies. For example, in AREDS, they looked at the lead/most advanced eye & assigned the participant that stage. So someone with one eye at the intermediate stage & the other with no AMD, early AMD or intermediate AMD would be assigned the intermediate stage. AREDS2 used a slightly different method.
- Source of supplements: There are many ‘eye vitamins’ sold as AREDS or AREDS2 but they do not all have the exact ingredients that were a result of the extensive AREDS & AREDS2 research (see References section below for full study articles).
- Importance of reading the labels: The ingredients & dosages from AREDS were antioxidants 400 IUs of Vitamin E, 500 mg of Vitamin C and 15 mg beta carotene. Beta carotene was found to be linked to lung cancer in smokers so for that and other reasons, AREDS2 removed the beta carotene & used 10 mg Lutein and 2 mg Zeaxanthin. The formulations from both studies included zinc (because of zinc, copper was also included), 80 mg in AREDS and both 80 mg and 25 mg zinc in AREDS2. It was these exact ingredients that produced positive results (“showed reduction of risk of developing advanced AMD”) so read the labels of any products carefully to make sure they match the study formulation as closely as possible. There are 2 webpages in References below that compare selected products.
- Warning about zinc: Several years ago, warnings were issued about the high dose of zinc in the study formulations (80mg). Those warnings were confirmed by 2018 research that found that 15% of patients with a specific combination of genetic risk variants nearly tripled their risk of developing wet AMD when treated with the AREDS formulation with 80mg zinc instead of a placebo. For more information about genetic testing, see References below.
References
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Early AMD in one eye/no AMD the other eye
There were not enough participants in AREDS to a generate a recommendation. Perhaps results of Awh, Zanke and Kustra (2017) below may apply but it has not yet been studied. The study found that those with a specific genetic makeup may be harmed by taking the antioxidants (no zinc). There were no participants with early AMD in AREDS2. If your doctor has recommended that you take the supplement, see “Early AMD in both eyes” in The Guide.
References
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