The 7 Best Eye Health Supplements of 2024, According to Experts

Most Comprehensive

Ocuvite Eye Vitamin and Mineral Supplement

$35 $30 at Amazon $15 at Walmart

Key Specs:

Type: Vitamins A, C, and E, zinc, selenium, copper, lutein | Dose: One tablet | Servings Per Container: 240 | Independently Verified: No

Why We Recommend It

Ocuvite’s Eye Vitamin & Mineral Supplement is widely available and contains key vitamins for eye health, such as vitamins A, C, E, lutein, zinc, selenium, and copper. Vitamins C, E, lutein, zinc, and copper are all key components of AREDS and AREDS2 supplements, which have been shown to reduce the advancement of AMD. Brian M. DeBroff, MD, FACS, chief of ophthalmology at Bridgeport Hospital, explains vitamin A is an important component of rhodopsin, a protein that helps the retina function in low light conditions. A deficiency in vitamin A can lead to night blindness or dry eye syndrome.

Selenium may help with dry eye disease (DED) because people with this condition tend to have fewer proteins that transport selenium in their tears, which can increase oxidative stress. A selenium supplement could potentially reduce this and improve dry eye disease symptoms.

Krystal Dunham, MS, RDN, LD, recommends this supplement because it’s easy to find and affordable.

Keep In Mind

This product has variations geared towards different age groups and eye conditions. For example, Ocuvite has a supplement for adults 50+ that also has vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and zeaxanthin. That may be a better option for those with AMD since it is closer to the AREDS/AREDS2 formula.

Best for Treating Age-Related Macular Degeneration

PreserVision AREDS 2 Eye Vitamin & Mineral Supplement

$41 $30 at Amazon

Key Specs:

Type: Vitamins C, E, zinc, copper, lutein, zeaxanthin | Dose: One softgel | Servings Per Container: 120 | Independently Verified: Yes

Why We Recommend It

As far as supplements for eye health go, AREDS2 supplements have some of the strongest research behind them for preventing the progression of AMD. Both Yuna Rapoport, MD, MPH, a board-certified ophthalmologist at Manhattan Eye, and DeBroff recommend these supplements because of their strong research backing. 

AREDS supplements include 500 milligrams of vitamin C, 400 IUs of vitamin E, 15 milligrams of beta-carotene, 2 milligrams of copper, and 80 milligrams of zinc. This formulation reduced the risk of advanced AMD by about 25% over five years. The AREDS2 trial found that adding 10 milligrams of lutein and 2 milligrams of zeaxanthin reduced the risk of advanced AMD even more than the AREDS formulation. 

If you have AMD, we recommend the PreserVision AREDS2 Eye Vitamin and Mineral supplement. It has the same formulation used in the above study and is the most studied eye brand. 

Keep In Mind

Note that the softgels are made with gelatin, so those following a strict vegan diet may want to avoid this supplement. 

Best Antioxidants

NOW Supplements, Ocu Support with FloraGLO Lutein

$32 $20 at Amazon $20 at Walmart $20 at Iherb

Key Specs:

Type: Vitamins A, C, and E, riboflavin, zinc, selenium | Dose: Three capsules | Servings Per Container: 40 | Independently Verified: Yes

Why We Recommend It

We like NOW’s Ocu Support Clinical Strength Veg Capsules because of their lutein and zeaxanthin content, ease of swallowing, lack of an unpleasant aftertaste, and independent verification. 

Oxidative stress occurs when harmful molecules, called free radicals, damage your cells, including those in your eyes. DeBroff says that oxidative damage is a key factor in cataract development and macular degeneration, and antioxidants may help prevent these eye conditions. This supplement includes the antioxidants vitamins C and E, plus more ingredients with antioxidant properties—green tea extract, rutin powder, and bilberry extract. It also has selenium and zinc, which DeBroff says helps maintain the health of the retina, cell membranes, and protein structures of the eye. 

Keep In Mind

This product contains N-acetyl cysteine, which has evidence-backed benefits to eye health with topical use, but more research is necessary to support the benefits of taking it orally. Additionally, it is important to note that some of the herbal ingredients in this supplement may interact with certain medications and may not be suitable for all. 

Best Vitamin A

Pure Encapsulations Vitamin A

$12 $10 at Amazon

Key Specs:

Type: Retinyl Palmitate | Dose: One softgel | Servings Per Container: 120 | Independently Verified: Yes

Why We Recommend It

Vitamin A helps prevent night blindness and dry eye disease, but Shapiro says that vitamin A is also important for clear, healthy corneas. While vitamin A deficiencies are rare in the U.S., those with gastrointestinal absorption issues or cystic fibrosis are at an increased risk and may benefit from supplementary vitamin A to protect their overall health, including eye health.

You can get vitamin A from beef liver, eggs, milk, and fatty fish. Orange vegetables, such as carrots, winter squash, and sweet potatoes, are good sources of beta-carotene, which our bodies convert into vitamin A. If you don't get enough of these foods, a vitamin A supplement can help. We like Pure Encapsulation Vitamin A because it’s independently verified, and like most vitamin A supplements, the dose is 3,000 micrograms. This is right at the tolerable upper limit (UL) for vitamin A, so it's important to not take any additional vitamin A from other supplements like a multivitamin. If you're unsure if you need this amount, a healthcare professional can help. 

Keep In Mind

Note that this supplement is made with fish and gelatin, so it’s not a good fit for those with fish allergies or following a vegan diet.

Best Vitamin C

Nature Made Vitamin C 500 mg Dietary Supplement

$10 at Amazon $13 at Walmart $12 at Walgreens

Key Specs:

Type: Ascorbic Acid | Dose: One tablet | Servings Per Container: 100 | Independently Verified: Yes

Why We Recommend It

The eyes contain some of the highest concentrations of vitamin C in the body. In fact, vitamin C is a key nutrient in the AREDS formula to help slow the progression of AMD. These benefits are largely because vitamin C is an antioxidant, so it helps neutralize harmful free radicals that cause oxidative stress to the eyes. 

If you incorporate certain foods in your diet, it’s fairly easy to meet your vitamin C needs through food alone. For example, ½ cup of sweet red peppers have 106% of the daily value (DV) for vitamin C, while ¾ cup of orange juice has 103% of the DV.

However, if you’re looking for a vitamin C supplement, Nature Made’s Vitamin C is USP-verified and affordably priced. We also like that it contains 500 milligrams of vitamin C, the same dose used in the researched-backed AREDS formula. Plus, it contains far less than the tolerable upper limit (UL) of 2,000 milligrams of vitamin C, making it a safe choice.

Keep In Mind

There’s also some research supporting the potential for vitamin C to reduce the risk of developing cataracts, although the overall research on this is still inconclusive.

Best Vitamin E

Nature Made E

$13 $9 at Amazon

Key Specs:

Type: dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate | Dose: One softgel | Servings Per Container: 100 | Independently Verified: Yes

Why We Recommend It

Like vitamins A and C, Vitamin E is an antioxidant, protecting against damage from free radicals linked with various eye diseases, including cataracts and macular degeneration says DeBroff. While some research shows that there’s potential for vitamin E supplementation to prevent glaucoma and cataracts—two common eye health issues amongst older adults—the overall body of research on this topic is inconclusive. That said, vitamin E is another vitamin included in AREDS and AREDS2 supplements to prevent the progression of AMD. The dose in these supplements is the same dose as our top pick for vitamin E—400 IUs. 

Vitamin E is found in nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, and leafy, green vegetables. Deficiency is rare among Americans, and symptoms of deficiency are uncommon. However, since vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, people with fat-malabsorption disorders are at higher risk of deficiency. 

If you’re in the market for a supplement, we recommend Nature Made's Vitamin E 180 mg. This supplement is affordable and independently verified. It’s also well below the UL for vitamin E, and as mentioned above, the dose is the same as in AREDS/AREDS2 supplements. 

Keep In Mind

This supplement contains gelatin so those following a strict vegan diet may not want to take this supplement.

Best Omega-3

Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Lemon Flavor 16 oz

$44 at Amazon $24 at Walmart View on Vitamin Shoppe

Key Specs:

Type: EPA, DHA | Dose: One teaspoon | Servings Per Container: 96 | Independently Verified: Yes

Why We Recommend It

Omega-3s are a type of polyunsaturated fat widely touted for their anti-inflammatory benefits. There is mixed evidence that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may reduce symptoms of dry eye disease and computer vision syndrome—eye strain from computer use. However, Dunham explains that DHA—an omega-3 fatty acid—is abundant in the retina of your eyes, and Shapiro says that consuming more omega-3s may help prevent inflammation and lubricate the eyes. 

If you’re looking for an omega-3 fatty acid supplement, we recommend Nordic Naturals’ Omega-3 Liquid supplement. Their fish oil is from sustainably sourced, wild-caught sardines and anchovies, which are low-mercury fish. Since this is a liquid supplement, adjusting the dose to meet your needs is easier. One teaspoon contains 1560 milligrams of omega-3s from EPA and DHA, but you can easily take more or less as needed. 

You can also rest assured that this supplement is independently verified for purity and potency, including heavy metal testing. It even comes in lemon flavor, which helps offset the fish oil taste.

Keep In Mind

Since this is sourced from fish, it isn’t suitable for those with a seafood allergy or who otherwise don’t consume fish products.