The Best Vitamins For Vision Loss

Imagine a simple, daily step that could help protect your vision as you age—even if you’re at high risk for blindness. While age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has left doctors with few treatment options, groundbreaking research reveals that a natural supplement formula might slow its progression and preserve central vision. This eye-opening discovery could be the lifeline millions need to stave off vision loss, even in advanced stages of the disease.

Key Takeaways

• The AREDS2 formula can delay the progression of advanced age-related macular degeneration by 18%, preserving vision longer.
• Supplements may reduce damage to the fovea—the part of the eye responsible for sharp, detailed central vision—by up to 55%.
• High-potency antioxidants and minerals in the AREDS2 formula offer a safe, science-backed way to protect your vision, especially when dietary intake isn’t enough.

The Problem of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Your vision is like a beautiful photograph, but suddenly, the center starts to blur, making it difficult to see the faces of your loved ones or read your favorite book. This is the reality for millions dealing with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but understanding the two types can help you take control of your eye health.

The more common form, dry AMD, is like a slow-moving fog that gradually affects your central vision over the years. It happens when tiny yellow deposits called drusen build up beneath your retina, similar to how salt can slowly accumulate on a window. While there's no cure yet, many people successfully manage this condition through healthy lifestyle choices and specific supplements that support eye health.

The second type, wet AMD, is rarer but more urgent – like a sudden storm that can quickly damage your vision. It occurs when irregular blood vessels grow where they shouldn't, leaking fluid under your retina and potentially causing rapid vision loss within weeks or months.

Could This Be the Missing Piece to Prevent Vision Loss?

Doctors are at a loss when it comes to treatment since neither drugs nor surgery help in the most common form of the disease, dry AMD.

What can be done? A new study shows that a nutritional supplement slows disease progression. This means it will save the sight of many who would otherwise have been at high risk of losing it.

Scientists wondered whether nutrients found in green, leafy vegetables and other healthy foods could help since a high-quality diet is known to lower the risk of developing AMD.

The first nationwide clinical trial was published in 2001 and proved very successful.

Supplements Dramatically Lower the Risk

The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) was sponsored by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health. It involved 4,757 participants between the ages of 55 and 80. The key findings were that after five years, those with intermediate AMD taking vitamins C and E, beta carotene, zinc, and copper, lowered their risk of AMD developing to an advanced stage by 25% and reduced the risk of central vision loss by 19%.

After ten years, patients were 25 to 30% less likely to develop advanced AMD than those initially assigned to placebo.

“First Effective Treatment”

Paul Sieving, director of the NEI said at the time: “This is an exciting discovery because, for people at high risk for developing advanced AMD, these nutrients are the first effective treatment to slow the progression of the disease.”¹

After this success, they looked to improve the formula by removing beta-carotene and replacing it with lutein and zeaxanthin. These carotenoids are potent antioxidants with an affinity for the eyes.

And vision health is not their only benefit. Lutein and zeaxanthin are great protectors of your memory, too.

The researchers then put the new AREDS2 formula head-to-head with the original formula in a new study of 4,203 participants, ages 50 to 85 with intermediate AMD. After five years the risk of developing advanced AMD in the AREDS2 group was lowered by 18% compared with the original AREDS.

Emily Chew, NEI deputy clinical director, commented: “Long-term use of AREDS supplements appears safe and protective against advanced AMD.”²

In the latest study, published in July, the previous studies were reanalyzed because they didn’t account for a phenomenon of late AMD called “foveal sparing.” The fovea is a small depression in the center of the macula responsible for exceptionally sharp, detailed central vision. With geographic atrophy, the macula is damaged, but it may not have spread to the fovea.

Scientists were interested in whether the nutritional supplement could delay geographic atrophy progression and spare the fovea. If so, this would be a big deal because central vision could be retained for much longer, even in those with advanced disease.

Retains Sight For Longer In Advanced Disease

For the new analysis, the researchers reviewed the original retinal scans in both trials. It revealed the supplement slowed the expansion rate towards the fovea by approximately 55% over an average of three years.

Tiarnan Keenan, lead author of the study, was full of praise: “Our analysis shows that taking AREDS2 supplements can also slow disease progression in people with late dry AMD. These findings support the continued use of AREDS2 supplements by people with late dry AMD. [A]ntioxidant supplementation is a simple step that may slow central vision loss, even for those with late disease.”³

This isn’t surprising, numerous studies have shown how nutrients can relieve other common eye conditions, such as dry eye.

Our Takeaway

Nutrients that makeup AREDS2 can be found in a high-quality wholefood diet. However, as Dr. Frederick Ferris, former director of clinical research at the NEI points out, “the high levels of nutrients that were evaluated in the AREDS are challenging to achieve from diet alone.”

And remember, whether you're dealing with dry or wet AMD, the key is early detection through regular eye exams. Your eye doctor is like a weather forecaster for your vision, able to spot early warning signs and help you navigate the best path forward for preserving your precious sight.

Summary

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults, particularly in its dry form, which lacks effective treatment options. Groundbreaking research on the AREDS and AREDS2 nutritional supplement formulas has shown that these antioxidants and minerals can slow AMD progression, reduce the risk of central vision loss, and even delay damage in advanced stages. By incorporating lutein, zeaxanthin, and other nutrients, these supplements provide a safe and effective way to protect vision when diet alone may fall short.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is age-related macular degeneration (AMD)? AMD is an eye disease that affects the macula, leading to blurred central vision and, in advanced cases, vision loss.
• What are the AREDS and AREDS2 supplements? They are specialized nutrient formulas designed to slow the progression of AMD and preserve central vision.
• What nutrients are included in the AREDS2 formula? Lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamins C and E, zinc, and copper make up the potent antioxidant blend.
• Can diet alone provide these nutrients? While a healthy diet helps, the high levels of nutrients needed are difficult to achieve through food alone.
• Are AREDS2 supplements safe? Yes, long-term studies show AREDS2 supplements are safe and effective for slowing AMD progression.