PreserVision AREDS 2 review: the eye vitamin built on the NEI's own formula
Bausch + Lomb's PreserVision AREDS 2 softgels match the nutrient formula from the National Eye Institute's Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2.
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Here's a supplement with a rare thing behind it: a large government study.
The National Eye Institute ran two big trials called AREDS and AREDS2, short for the Age-Related Eye Disease Study. Out of that work came a specific nutrient formula for people with age-related macular degeneration, or AMD. PreserVision AREDS 2 is Bausch + Lomb's version of that exact recipe.
What the formula contains
The softgels include the AREDS2 nutrients:
Lutein and zeaxanthin, two yellow pigments that naturally collect in the macula, the center of the retina
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Zinc
Copper, included because long-term zinc can lower copper
Bausch + Lomb says the formula exactly matches what the NEI's AMD experts recommend, based on AREDS2, to help reduce the risk of progression from moderate to advanced AMD. The precise amounts are printed on the package.
One of the changes from the original AREDS study is worth knowing. The first version used beta carotene. AREDS2 replaced it with lutein and zeaxanthin, partly because beta carotene raised concerns for smokers. So this newer formula is the one eye doctors usually point people toward today.
Who it's really for
I want to be clear and friendly about this, because it matters. This formula was studied in people who already have intermediate AMD, or advanced AMD in one eye. That's the group the research supports.
If your eye doctor has looked at your retina and mentioned AMD, this is very likely the supplement they had in mind. If you have healthy eyes and just want general eye nutrition, a regular lutein supplement or a multivitamin may be a better match, and your optometrist can help you decide.
That honesty is part of why I like this product. It isn't trying to be an everything pill for every pair of eyes. It's a focused formula with a clear purpose, and the people who need it tend to stay on it for years. If you're helping a parent or grandparent who was just told they have early AMD, this is a kind, practical thing to set up for them, maybe along with a pill organizer and a ride to their next appointment.
The brand behind it
Bausch + Lomb has been in eye care since 1853. Contact lenses, eye drops, surgical tools, and a full line of eye vitamins. The company calls PreserVision the number one doctor recommended eye vitamin brand and the most studied, since it's tied to both AREDS trials.
Shoppers agree. It holds 4.8 stars from more than 10,000 Amazon ratings. Many reviewers say they buy it because their retina specialist told them to, and they like getting it delivered instead of hunting for it at the pharmacy.
Living with it
These are softgels, which a lot of people find easier to swallow than the big tablets older AREDS products used. The 90 count bottle was listed at $26.58 when I checked. Follow the serving on the package, and take the softgels with a meal for comfort and absorption.
A little tip from the reviews: set the bottle next to wherever you eat breakfast and dinner. Consistency is the whole game with a supplement like this, and that's an easy way to stay on track.
A few sensible notes
Keep your regular eye appointments, since a supplement supports care but doesn't replace it. And if you notice sudden changes, such as straight lines looking wavy, a new dark or blank spot in your vision, or a quick drop in sharpness, call your eye doctor right away.
The formula has a fair amount of zinc and vitamin E. If you take blood thinners or other supplements with these nutrients, let your doctor know so you don't double up.
Trusted for a reason
When an eye vitamin rests on a major NEI study and a 170-year-old eye care company, it's easy to see why so many doctors mention it by name. If you've been told the AREDS2 formula is right for you, PreserVision AREDS 2 is a simple, well-loved way to follow that advice.
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