1. < Eye Conditions
Profile picture for cfbauer

AREDS 2 - Does it help?

Posted by cfbauer @cfbauer, Jul 9, 2022

Is there any definitive evidence that AREDS 2 works?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Eye Conditions Support Group.

Profile picture for kaye46
kaye46 | @kaye46 | Nov 29, 2025
In reply to @mikaylar "I am not willing to risk my sight to find out if the vitamins work." + (show)
Profile picture for mikayla @mikaylar

I am not willing to risk my sight to find out if the vitamins work.

Jump to this post

@mikaylar Areds were never intended to cure AMD but rather to help slow it down, at least that's what my doctor told me. I did read they might also prevent it from happening in the second eye. Either way, I take them, as I don't see any harm, and if there's even a small chance they help, I want to take that chance. (Low Zinc version).

REPLY
Profile picture for kayabbott
kayabbott | @kayabbott | Nov 29, 2025

Anyone prescribed AREDS2 for dry AMD, while having stage 3a or 3b chronic kidney disease (CKD)? I was diagnosed with stage 3a CKD after norovirus in 12/23; my subsequent eGFR (a measure of kidney functon) was 56 (it was previously in the 70's, normal for my age [71]). A couple of weeks before AREDS2 was prescribed in Feb. 2025, my eGFR was 53. It has steadily decreased this year, along with increase in fatigue; my eGFR is now 33 to 40, stage 3b.
I told my nephrologist's NP about the fatige and she said "I hope you are feeling better next year". I'm on Jardiance now, an SGLT2 inhibitor (BP was 120/70 and now 104/73).

REPLY
Profile picture for 56huxley
56huxley | @sjs1 | Nov 29, 2025
In reply to @mikaylar "I am not willing to risk my sight to find out if the vitamins work." + (show)
Profile picture for mikayla @mikaylar

I am not willing to risk my sight to find out if the vitamins work.

Jump to this post

@mikaylarenee99

REPLY
Profile picture for 56huxley
56huxley | @sjs1 | Nov 29, 2025
In reply to @mikaylar "I am not willing to risk my sight to find out if the vitamins work." + (show)
Profile picture for mikayla @mikaylar

I am not willing to risk my sight to find out if the vitamins work.

Jump to this post

@mikaylarenee99
Make sure to consult your retina doctor about AREDS2 . Don't just stop taking them because of the side effects you read about here.
Most of us are taking it without high zinc which seems to be the culprit with our side effects. Zinc is in the formula for a reason -- ask them if you can benefit without it and ask your retina doctor for help in choosing the right formula. You may not have any gastro problems (I don't) or have my CFH gene Double Y Y 407h which some research says causes my eyes to go to advanced AMD quicker with AREDS2 .
You may be in the 25 percent that is actually helped by it! So don't give up on it without asking your retina doctor.

REPLY
Profile picture for michaelstuart1
michaelstuart1 | @michaelstuart1 | Feb 17 8:49am
In reply to @sjs1 "@cjval52 Okay, Areds2 is a supplement not a drug and there are no warnings on the..." + (show)
Profile picture for 56huxley @sjs1

@cjval52
Okay, Areds2 is a supplement not a drug and there are no warnings on the bottle. Apparently since it's only a supplement and it is not FDA inspected or regulated it is not required to have warnings. Your retina doctor is not going to make a connection between the supplement and your side-effects. You just talk about your eyes there you didn't bring your side effects up to the retina doctor or make the connection between the supplement and your side effects until now - one year later . Your GP normally just wants to know what meds you are taking and supplements don't usually come up. The clinical study found some people did not tolerate it well and had gastric trouble but not the majority. It is not traced to any other side effects at all or major diseases like cancer. An investigative journalist wouldn't be useful here. I hope your AMD disease didn't progress. I have been taking areds2 without zinc and if you dont want to ever take Areds again take lutein and eye vitamins by themselves and maybe the antioxidant astaxanthin. AREDs did have beta carotene in it and they took it out because there is a
lung cancer connection.

Jump to this post

@sjs1
My ophthalmologist directed me to take 2 AREDS tablets (1 am/pm) and NEVER ordered a blood draw. IF you read the Supplement Facts, Zinc (at 2 tabs per day) 1454% of the daily recommended 'dose,' and I took them for 5-6 years when my symptoms began in 2022. So that doctor either never read the bottle or was negligent in overseeing the potential toxicity of the zinc. A doctor directed the use of that supplement as I never used any until then. I can't 'hold harmless.'

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.