Ranked by evidence
Best supplements for eye health
The strongest eye evidence is narrow: a specific formula slows macular degeneration in people who already have it, and nothing has been shown to prevent eye disease in healthy eyes. Items are ranked by the grade of the evidence for each use, not by popularity, and the ones that apply only to a particular condition say so. Any change in vision needs an eye examination, not a supplement.
Picks are ranked by the strength of published evidence for this goal in otherwise healthy adults. A persistent symptom needs a clinician's evaluation, and no supplement on this list replaces treatment.
Evidence last reviewed: September 2026
Top picks
| Option | Evidence | Best for | The honest note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AREDS2 Eye Formula | Strong evidence | intermediate macular degeneration | In people who already have intermediate AMD it cuts progression to late disease by roughly 20–25% over five years. It does not prevent AMD in healthy eyes, and its 80 mg of zinc and 400 IU of vitamin E are reasons not to take it without a diagnosis. | View |
Solid options
| Option | Evidence | Best for | The honest note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lutein & Zeaxanthin | Moderate evidence | AMD, in place of beta-carotene | In AREDS2, lutein 10 mg with zeaxanthin 2 mg reduced progression by about 18% compared with beta-carotene, and it reliably raises macular pigment. It does not prevent cataract. | View |
| Dry Eye Supplements | Moderate evidence | dry eye symptoms | Pooled trials of omega-3 show small gains in dry eye symptom scores and tear break-up time. The largest trial, DREAM, found no difference from placebo over 12 months, so expect a modest effect at best. | View |
| Maqui Berry | Limited evidence | tear production in dry eye | Its most consistent effect is in the eye: 30–60 mg/day of extract improved tear production and dry-eye symptom scores over 4–8 weeks. Trials were small, short and mostly funded by the extract's manufacturer. | View |
Situational
| Option | Evidence | Best for | The honest note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A (Retinol) | Moderate evidence | night blindness from deficiency | Where deficiency is common, supplementation cuts night blindness by roughly 50–70%. In well-nourished adults it adds nothing, and high doses are dangerous, especially in pregnancy. | View |
Popular for this goal — but the evidence says skip
- Beta-Carotene Limited evidence
It was dropped from the AREDS2 formula because it raised lung cancer risk in smokers, and lutein with zeaxanthin is the safer swap.
- Bilberry Limited evidence
Placebo-controlled trials have found no improvement in night vision or dark adaptation; the wartime pilot story is a myth.
- N-Acetylcarnosine Limited evidence
A Cochrane review found no convincing evidence that the drops slow or reverse cataract, and relying on them can delay effective surgery.
- Eye Strain Formulas Limited evidence
No commercial eye strain blend has been tested against placebo, and the individual ingredient trials are small and mostly sponsor-funded.
- Astaxanthin Limited evidence
The eye strain trials are small, underpowered and largely sponsored, so the claim should be considered unproven.
- Goji Berry Limited evidence
Small trials show a rise in macular pigment, a biomarker, but none measured vision or AMD progression.
Our verdict
If you have intermediate age-related macular degeneration, the AREDS2 formula is the one supplement with strong evidence, and lutein with zeaxanthin is its key ingredient. Without a diagnosis there is little worth taking; skip beta-carotene eye formulas if you smoke or used to, bilberry for night vision and N-acetylcarnosine drops for cataract.