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Retina Clear vs. the AREDS2 Formula
AREDS2 is one of the most well-studied eye-health nutrient formulas, backed by a National Eye Institute-funded clinical trial. It's a useful reference point for evaluating any eye-health supplement, including Retina Clear.
What AREDS2 Includes
The AREDS2 formula (as of its 2013 update) centers on Vitamin C, Vitamin E, zinc, copper, lutein, and zeaxanthin -- notably without beta-carotene, which was part of the original AREDS formula but removed specifically over the smoker lung-cancer risk discussed in our beta-carotene safety post.
Where Retina Clear Overlaps
Retina Clear shares several elements with AREDS2: Vitamin C (90mg), Vitamin E (15mg), zinc (11mg), and copper (0.9mg) are all disclosed at specific doses. Lutein and zeaxanthin also appear in Retina Clear's ingredient list, inside its undisclosed 351mg blend.
Where They Diverge
The clearest divergence is beta-carotene. AREDS2 deliberately excludes it; Retina Clear includes it as its Vitamin A source. Retina Clear also adds 14 additional botanicals (bilberry, ginkgo biloba, taurine, and others) that aren't part of the AREDS2 formula at all, though without individual dose disclosure for any of them.
The Bottom Line
Retina Clear isn't a direct copy of AREDS2 -- it shares some core nutrients at comparable doses, adds a wider blend of botanicals, but keeps an ingredient (beta-carotene) that AREDS2 specifically dropped for safety reasons. That's a meaningful difference worth weighing, especially if you smoke.