Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is a common eye condition that mainly affects people over 50. It causes damage to the central part of your vision, which is important for reading, driving, and seeing faces clearly. While AMD doesn’t usually lead to complete blindness, it can make everyday tasks harder and lower your quality of life.
If you have a type of AMD called intermediate AMD, there is some good news. A special supplement called AREDS 2 may help slow down the disease and prevent it from getting worse. These supplements were developed based on large medical studies and contain a specific mix of vitamins and minerals.
The benefits of AREDS 2 supplements depend on which stage of AMD you have. If you have intermediate AMD in one or both eyes, taking AREDS 2 daily may help delay or prevent the condition from progressing to the late stage, where vision loss becomes much more serious.
If you already have late AMD in one eye, these supplements may still help protect the other eye from damage.
However, if you already have late-stage AMD in both eyes, AREDS 2 won’t help restore lost vision or stop the disease from progressing further. In that case, the focus usually shifts to using tools and resources that help you make the most of the vision you still have, like special magnifiers or low vision aids.
For people with early AMD, AREDS 2 is not helpful in slowing the disease at that stage. If your eye doctor has told you that you have early AMD, the best thing you can do is get regular eye exams—at least once a year—to keep track of any changes.
There are also different types of late AMD. If you have wet AMD, which involves abnormal blood vessels growing in the back of the eye, there may be additional treatments such as injections or laser therapy. Your eye doctor will help you understand which treatments are best for your specific case.
While AREDS 2 can help many people, it’s important to be aware of possible side effects. These supplements contain high doses of certain vitamins and minerals, which might interfere with other medications or affect how your body processes food. You should always talk to your doctor before starting AREDS 2, especially if you take other medicines or have health concerns.
It’s also important to choose AREDS 2 supplements—not the original AREDS formula. The first version contained beta-carotene, which was linked to a higher risk of lung cancer in smokers and former smokers. AREDS 2 removed beta-carotene and added safer alternatives like lutein and zeaxanthin, which are better for eye health and safe for people who have smoked.
The ingredients in AREDS 2 include vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, copper, lutein, and zeaxanthin. These are not found in the right amounts in normal multivitamins or food, so taking the specific AREDS 2 formula is important if you want to get the full benefits.
You can buy AREDS 2 supplements at most pharmacies or online. When choosing one, read the label carefully to make sure it contains the correct amounts of each ingredient. Your doctor may also recommend a trusted brand that meets these standards.
AREDS 2 supplements were developed through years of research by scientists at the National Eye Institute in the United States. Their studies—called AREDS and AREDS2—proved that the specific combination of nutrients in these supplements could help reduce the risk of vision loss in people with intermediate or late AMD.
In summary, if you have intermediate AMD or late AMD in only one eye, AREDS 2 supplements may be a simple and effective way to protect your vision. They won’t cure the disease or reverse damage, but they can help slow it down.
As with any supplement, talk to your doctor before starting. With the right care and guidance, you may be able to preserve your eyesight and keep enjoying the activities you love.
If you care about eye health, please read studies about how vitamin B may help fight vision loss, and MIND diet may reduce risk of vision loss disease.
For more information about eye disease, please see recent studies about how to protect your eyes from glaucoma, and results showing this eye surgery may reduce dementia risk.
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