Supplements for AMD

Supplements for AMD

If you’ve been diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), you may benefit from select supplements. That will depend, however, on your stage of disease.

Supplements are vitamins, minerals or other substances taken in tablet or capsule form.

We’ll discuss both general dietary supplements and AREDS2 supplements. 

Dietary supplements

A dietary supplement may be useful, if your intake of nutrients, particularly eye health nutrients, is inadequate. This can be appropriate whether or not you have been diagnosed with AMD. 

In particular, if you do not obtain enough lutein through a daily diet of dark green leafy vegetables, you may consider a lutein supplement. 

If you’re unable to eat two to three serves of fish each week you may consider a fish oil (Omega-3) supplement. However, there is currently a lack of good evidence confirming the benefits of Omega-3 supplements in reducing risk or slowing progression of AMD versus eating actual fish. 

You should consult with your doctor before taking dietary supplements. This is because some vitamins, whether obtained through food or supplements, can interfere with certain medications.

AREDS2 supplements for age-related macular degeneration

AREDS2 supplements refer to a range of supplements with formulas based on the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS). Several companies produce AREDS2 supplements under a number of different brand names. Contact MDFA for further information.

It’s important to speak to your eye health professional about whether AREDS2 supplements are appropriate for you.

AREDS2 supplements are not a cure for AMD and they can’t reverse damage already caused by the disease. However, studies suggest that you may benefit from these supplements if you have:

• intermediate stage AMD in one or both eyes, to help lower your risk of progressing to late AMD
• late stage AMD (dry or wet) in one eye only, to help lower your risk of developing it in the other eye.

AREDS2 supplements don’t prevent AMD, so they’re not recommended if you don’t have the disease. They are also not recommended if you only have early signs of AMD or late stage AMD (dry or wet) in both eyes. 

In our community

MDFA volunteer Jim talks about the changes he made to his diet – and the supplements he takes – after being diagnosed with AMD.