Vitamins are often discussed as part of macular degeneration care, but many patients are unsure how helpful they really are. In this video, Dr. Stuart Burgess explains what AREDS-2 vitamins are, who may benefit from them, and why they are recommended as a supportive—not essential—part of treatment. He also addresses common questions about effectiveness, tolerance, and choosing the right formulation.
Hello, I’m Dr. Stuart Burgess of the Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute, and I wanted to speak a little bit about vitamins and macular degeneration.
While there are many treatments for various forms of macular degeneration, vitamins are often recommended. The vitamins most commonly discussed are part of a formulation called AREDS-2, which is a specific multivitamin formulation.
The AREDS-2 vitamins were analyzed in extensive research protocols, and there is a subgroup of patients for whom they are mildly beneficial. However, they are not dramatically beneficial for everyone. That said, we still recommend them because any little bit helps, and they are antioxidants, which can be beneficial for overall health.
So again, we do recommend them, but if you don’t tolerate them, miss a dose, or have any difficulty taking them, don’t worry. They are not critical for managing macular degeneration.
With AREDS-2, there are hundreds of different brands available. AREDS-2 refers to a specific formulation, and any brand that follows that formulation is acceptable. I typically recommend that my patients choose the least expensive AREDS-2 formulation they can find.
I hope this answers your question regarding vitamins and macular degeneration.
