There is no set number of weeks or months. The AREDS and AREDS2 trials measured benefit over years: the original AREDS trial followed people for an average of 6.3 years, and its benefit was still seen 10 years after enrollment. The supplements lower the chance that intermediate AMD moves to advanced AMD. They are not expected to produce a change you can notice, and the trials did not show that they bring back vision that is already lost. NEI gives no set length of time to take them, so ask your eye doctor.
Many people start an AREDS2 formula and then wonder, a few weeks later, whether anything is happening. Their eyesight feels the same, and there is no obvious sign that the softgels are doing their job.
That feeling makes sense once you see what the trials actually measured. This article explains how long the studies lasted, what "working" means for these supplements, and what the National Eye Institute (NEI) does and does not say about how long to take them.
What "working" means for AREDS2
The AREDS and AREDS2 trials did not test whether vision got sharper. They tested whether fewer people moved from intermediate AMD to advanced AMD over time. NEI's AREDS/AREDS2 FAQ says the supplements "may delay progression of intermediate to advanced AMD and may help you keep your vision longer."
A lower risk of something happening in the future is not something you can feel. If the supplements are helping, the result is that a change does not happen, or happens later. That is why there is no moment when you would notice them "kicking in."
The trials also found that the formula lowered the risk of losing vision, not that it improved vision. NEI's trials page says the AREDS formula reduced the risk of central vision loss by 19% in the high-risk group. None of the NEI pages we reviewed describes the supplements as restoring vision that has already been lost.
How long the trials lasted
Both trials ran for years before researchers reported results.
| Study | Who took part | How long | What it found |
|---|---|---|---|
| AREDS | 3,640 people aged 55 to 80 | Average 6.3 years | Antioxidants plus zinc lowered the odds of advanced AMD (odds ratio 0.72) |
| AREDS extended follow-up | 3,549 surviving participants | 5 more years (10 years in total) | In people at higher risk, the lower odds of advanced AMD held (odds ratio 0.66) |
| AREDS2 | 4,203 people aged 50 to 85 | Median 5 years | Adding lutein and zeaxanthin, or omega-3s, gave no extra benefit in the primary analysis; 25 mg of zinc showed no difference from 80 mg |
| AREDS2 follow-on | 3,882 participants | 5 more years, December 2012 to December 2018 | Lutein and zeaxanthin vs none: hazard ratio 0.91 for late AMD |
An odds ratio or hazard ratio compares two groups. A value of 1.0 means no difference, and a value below 1.0 means the outcome, here advanced AMD, was less common or happened more slowly in the supplement group.
A note on "5 years" vs "6.3 years"
You may see two different numbers for the original trial. NEI's trials page says AREDS participants' progression "was followed for 5 years," with enrollment running from November 1992 to January 1998. The published AREDS Report No. 8 gives an average follow-up of 6.3 years. Both figures are published for the same trial. Either way, the answer was measured in years.
Did the benefit last?
After the original trial ended, AREDS investigators followed participants for an additional five years. By then, NEI reports, about 70% of participants were taking the AREDS formula. Those originally assigned to the formula were 25 to 30% less likely to develop advanced AMD than those originally assigned to placebo. In the highest-risk group, 34% progressed on the formula compared with 44% on placebo.
The 10-year analysis (AREDS Report No. 35) looked more closely at people at higher risk. Compared with placebo, the formula was linked to:
- Lower odds of advanced AMD (odds ratio 0.66)
- Lower odds of wet (neovascular) AMD (odds ratio 0.60)
- Lower odds of moderate vision loss (odds ratio 0.71)
- No clear difference in central geographic atrophy, a late form of dry AMD (odds ratio 1.02, not statistically significant)
The authors concluded that the benefits persisted for wet AMD but not for central geographic atrophy. NEI's FAQ sums it up this way: participants have been followed for more than 10 years, "and the benefits of the AREDS formulation have persisted over this time."
AREDS2 also added a follow-on study. From December 2012 to December 2018, all 3,882 participants received AREDS2 supplements and were contacted by phone every 6 months. Our guide to the AREDS and AREDS2 trials explains how both studies were set up.
How long should you keep taking it?
NEI does not give a set length of time. None of the NEI pages we reviewed states a minimum or maximum length of time, a point when the benefit starts, or a time to stop. NEI's patient page on AREDS 2 supplements describes the trial participants as people "who took these supplements every day."
How long makes sense for you depends on your stage of AMD and your overall health, which is a conversation for your eye doctor. Stage also decides whether the question applies at all. NEI says the formulas showed no benefit for people with early AMD or without AMD, may slow AMD in the second eye when late AMD is in one eye, and probably won't help when late AMD is in both eyes. Our article Can AREDS2 prevent macular degeneration? walks through each stage.
Keep in mind: feeling no difference is not a sign the supplement has failed, and it is not a sign your AMD is stable either. Only an eye exam can show whether AMD has changed. NEI says straight lines looking wavy is a warning sign for late AMD, and if you notice it, see your eye doctor right away.
Frequently asked questions
I have taken AREDS2 for months and my vision is the same. Should I stop?
Talk with your eye doctor before stopping. The trials were not looking for better vision; they looked at whether fewer people progressed to advanced AMD over years. Vision that stays the same is not evidence either way, which is why regular exams matter.
How will I know if it is working?
You won't be able to tell by how your eyes feel. Your eye doctor tracks AMD by examining your eyes over time. Between visits, watch for changes such as wavy lines or a blurry spot in your central vision. Our articles on symptoms of macular degeneration and how to use an Amsler grid explain what to look for.
Can AREDS2 bring back vision I have already lost?
The trials give no evidence that it can. They showed a lower risk of further vision loss in people at higher risk, not a gain in vision, and none of the NEI pages we reviewed describes the supplements as restoring lost vision.
Is it too late to start if I have had AMD for years?
It depends on your stage, not on how long you have had AMD. NEI says the formula may help people with intermediate AMD in one or both eyes, or late AMD in one eye. Ask your eye doctor which stage you have. If you take other supplements too, see Can you take AREDS2 with a multivitamin? and Are AREDS2 vitamins safe? Our science page lists the doses used in the trials.
Related reading
- What Is AREDS2 and Who Needs It?
- AREDS and AREDS2 Explained: How the Eye Vitamin Trials Worked
- Can AREDS2 Prevent Macular Degeneration?
- Eye Health After 50: What Changes and When to Get Checked
- What "AREDS3" on a Label Means
References
- National Eye Institute. About AREDS and AREDS2 (updated October 22, 2025). nei.nih.gov
- National Eye Institute. AREDS/AREDS2 frequently asked questions (updated November 19, 2020). nei.nih.gov
- National Eye Institute. AREDS 2 supplements for age-related macular degeneration (updated June 22, 2021). nei.nih.gov
- National Eye Institute. Age-related macular degeneration (updated June 22, 2021). nei.nih.gov
- Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group. AREDS report no. 8. Arch Ophthalmol. 2001;119(10):1417-1436. doi:10.1001/archopht.119.10.1417
- Chew EY, et al. AREDS report no. 35. Ophthalmology. 2013;120:1604-1611.e4. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2013.01.021
- Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 Research Group. Lutein + zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids for age-related macular degeneration: the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2013;309(19):2005-2015. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.4997
- Chew EY, Clemons TE, Agrón E, et al. Long-term outcomes of adding lutein/zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids to the AREDS supplements on age-related macular degeneration progression: AREDS2 report 28. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2022;140(7):692-698. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2022.1640
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Talk with your eye doctor before starting any supplement, especially if you smoke, take other medicines, or have a health condition. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. TruVista products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
