Front of the PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula carton and bottle, 120 mini soft gels

AREDS 2 Formula MiniGels

Q: Can PreserVision AREDS 2 prevent macular degeneration or cataracts?

No. In the NEI trials, the AREDS formulas slowed progression in people who already had intermediate AMD, or advanced AMD in one eye. There was no benefit for people without AMD or with early AMD, and the NEI says supplements cannot stop AMD from developing. Neither trial found an overall effect on cataracts. A dilated eye exam tells you whether you are in the group that benefits.

Q: Is 80 mg of zinc a day safe?

It is the dose tested in AREDS, which found no statistically significant serious side effects, but it is twice the 40 mg adult upper limit. AREDS participants on zinc had more hospital admissions for genitourinary problems, and case reports describe copper deficiency after long-term use. AREDS2 found 25 mg worked about as well, so ask your doctor whether a lower-zinc formula suits you.

Q: What is OcuSorb, and does it make PreserVision work better?

OcuSorb is OmniActive's micronized lutein and zeaxanthin suspended in MCT and other oils. In a single-dose study funded by OmniActive in 90 healthy young men, it produced about two to three times higher blood levels than a commercial lutein blend. Higher blood levels have not been shown to improve AMD outcomes; the NEI trials used earlier formulations at the same doses.

The exact NEI AREDS2 doses in small MiniGels: worthwhile for intermediate AMD, no help for healthy eyes, and 80 mg of zinc is double the adult upper limit.

7.7

Good

Nutrition Reviews score

Weighted across efficacy, quality, value, experience & transparency. See breakdown

Form: Softgel
Serving: 1 Soft Gel (MiniGel)
Servings: 120
Per serving: $0.26

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Last reviewed October 22, 2026 by the Nutrition Reviews Editorial Team · How we review

Our verdict

For someone whose eye doctor has found intermediate AMD, or advanced AMD in one eye, it delivers the NEI-tested AREDS2 formula dose for dose, in a small, easy MiniGel. It does nothing proven for healthy eyes, early AMD or cataracts. Because the 80 mg of zinc is double the adult upper limit and AREDS2 saw no loss of benefit at 25 mg, ask your doctor whether a lower-zinc AREDS2 formula suits you.

Best for

Adults with intermediate AMD, or advanced AMD in one eye, whose eye doctor recommends AREDS2
Current or former smokers who need a beta-carotene-free AREDS formula
People who want the exact NEI-tested doses in small softgels

Skip it if

People with healthy eyes or early AMD hoping to prevent it
Vegetarians and vegans (gelatin and carmine)
Anyone on blood thinners, or at risk of copper deficiency, without a doctor's advice

How it scored

Our five-factor score out of 10. Factors are weighted by how much they matter to the outcome you’re paying for. Methodology

7.7

Good

out of 10

Efficacy30%8.4
Key ingredients at clinically studied doses, and how strong the evidence is.
Quality & Purity25%7.4
Third-party testing and certifications, manufacturing standards, contaminant testing, recall history.
Value20%7.0
Cost per effective serving compared with category peers.
Experience15%7.8
Taste, mixability, texture and tolerability from aggregated buyer and creator feedback.
Transparency10%7.3
Full label disclosure (no proprietary blends), available COAs, honest marketing.

Our review

PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula MiniGels deliver, in two softgels a day, exactly the nutrient doses the National Eye Institute (NEI) tested in AREDS2: 500 mg vitamin C, 180 mg vitamin E (400 IU), 80 mg zinc, 2 mg copper, 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin. Bausch + Lomb produced the trial formulations. In the original AREDS trial (2001), the formula lowered the risk of advanced AMD by about 25% over five years in people with intermediate AMD or advanced AMD in one eye. AREDS2 (2013) led to lutein and zeaxanthin replacing beta-carotene after more lung cancers appeared in the beta-carotene group (2.0% vs 0.9%), mostly in former smokers, and the 2022 ten-year follow-up found about 15% lower risk of late AMD with lutein/zeaxanthin than with beta-carotene.

The NEI found no benefit for people without AMD or with early AMD, says supplements cannot stop AMD from developing, and the formulas did not reduce cataracts. The 80 mg of zinc is twice the 40 mg adult upper limit; AREDS2 saw no difference at 25 mg, AREDS zinc groups had more genitourinary hospital admissions, and case reports describe copper deficiency with long-term use. The only published support we found for the newer OcuSorb lutein's "2x" absorption claim is a single-dose blood study funded by its ingredient maker, and the "#1 doctor recommended" badge cites only "data on file."

At the brand store, $30.99 buys a 60-day supply, about $0.52 a day. Walmart's Equate compare-to MiniGels cost about $0.37 a day but are not identical, listing 4 mg of copper daily. Buyers mostly take it on an eye doctor's advice and find the MiniGels easy to take; complaints center on price, occasional headaches or stomach upset, and hopes for sharper vision that the formula is not designed to deliver.

What’s inside

Key ingredient	Per serving	Why it matters
Zinc (from zinc oxide) The AREDS trial dose, but twice the 40 mg adult upper limit; AREDS2 found no difference at 25 mg, long-term high zinc can deplete copper, and zinc interacts with some antibiotics.	80 mg per day (40 mg per MiniGel)	The AREDS trial dose, but twice the 40 mg adult upper limit; AREDS2 found no difference at 25 mg, long-term high zinc can deplete copper, and zinc interacts with some antibiotics.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) Matches the AREDS and AREDS2 dose (556% DV across two MiniGels).	500 mg per day	Matches the AREDS and AREDS2 dose (556% DV across two MiniGels).
Vitamin E (dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate) The trial dose of synthetic vitamin E; the NEI notes a 17% higher prostate cancer risk with 400 IU in the SELECT trial, and high doses can raise bleeding risk with blood thinners.	180 mg (400 IU) per day	The trial dose of synthetic vitamin E; the NEI notes a 17% higher prostate cancer risk with 400 IU in the SELECT trial, and high doses can raise bleeding risk with blood thinners.
Lutein (marigold flower extract, OcuSorb) Replaced beta-carotene in AREDS2; OcuSorb raised blood levels in a single-dose study funded by its maker, while the outcome trials used earlier formulations.	10 mg per day	Replaced beta-carotene in AREDS2; OcuSorb raised blood levels in a single-dose study funded by its maker, while the outcome trials used earlier formulations.
Zeaxanthin The AREDS2 dose; the label says it may come from marigold flower or paprika fruit extract.	2 mg per day	The AREDS2 dose; the label says it may come from marigold flower or paprika fruit extract.
Copper (from cupric oxide) Included, as in the trials, to offset zinc-related copper deficiency.	2 mg per day	Included, as in the trials, to offset zinc-related copper deficiency.

Supplement Facts

Serving Size 1 Soft Gel (MiniGel)

Amount Per Serving% Daily Value

Calories <5

Total Fat <0.5 g<1%‡

Vitamin C 250 mg278%

Vitamin E 90 mg600%

Zinc 40 mg364%

Copper 1 mg111%

Lutein 5 mg**

Zeaxanthin§ 1 mg**

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. † Daily Value not established.

Other ingredients: Ascorbic acid, dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate, gelatin, glycerin, zinc oxide, marigold flower extract, medium chain triglycerides, carmine, zeaxanthin§, cupric oxide, titanium dioxide. § May be sourced from marigold flower or paprika fruit extract.

Transcribed from the manufacturer’s label (preservision.com). Formulas change — always check the label on the product you buy.

Testing & quality

No independent certification (USP, NSF) is claimed. The brand says products are manufactured and packaged in the USA, and the NEI notes that Bausch & Lomb produced the formulations used in the AREDS and AREDS2 trials.

Goals it supports

Healthy Aging

Creator video reviews

Independent creators reviewing AREDS 2 Formula MiniGels on YouTube and TikTok.

2 positive3 mixed1 critical

Pros & cons

What we like

Matches the NEI AREDS2 formula dose for dose: 500 mg C, 400 IU E, 80 mg zinc, 2 mg copper, 10 mg lutein, 2 mg zeaxanthin
Backed by large NEI trials: about 25% lower risk of advanced AMD over five years in higher-risk patients
Beta-carotene free, so it suits current and former smokers
Small MiniGels that buyers find easy to swallow

Watch-outs

80 mg of zinc is twice the 40 mg adult upper limit, and AREDS2 found 25 mg worked as well
No proven benefit for healthy eyes, early AMD or cataracts
About $0.52 a day at the brand's price, more than store-brand compare-to versions
Contains gelatin, carmine and titanium dioxide; the only published OcuSorb absorption study was funded by its maker

Questions buyers ask

Can PreserVision AREDS 2 prevent macular degeneration or cataracts?

No. In the NEI trials, the AREDS formulas slowed progression in people who already had intermediate AMD, or advanced AMD in one eye. There was no benefit for people without AMD or with early AMD, and the NEI says supplements cannot stop AMD from developing. Neither trial found an overall effect on cataracts. A dilated eye exam tells you whether you are in the group that benefits.

Is 80 mg of zinc a day safe?

It is the dose tested in AREDS, which found no statistically significant serious side effects, but it is twice the 40 mg adult upper limit. AREDS participants on zinc had more hospital admissions for genitourinary problems, and case reports describe copper deficiency after long-term use. AREDS2 found 25 mg worked about as well, so ask your doctor whether a lower-zinc formula suits you.

What is OcuSorb, and does it make PreserVision work better?

OcuSorb is OmniActive's micronized lutein and zeaxanthin suspended in MCT and other oils. In a single-dose study funded by OmniActive in 90 healthy young men, it produced about two to three times higher blood levels than a commercial lutein blend. Higher blood levels have not been shown to improve AMD outcomes; the NEI trials used earlier formulations at the same doses.

Sources we checked (27)

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