Lutein and zeaxanthin and eyes
What 4 graded rows on lutein and zeaxanthin agree on for eyes, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the Lutein and zeaxanthin page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the Lutein and zeaxanthin page, with its PubMed record.
Your question
Lutein and zeaxanthin and eyes
4 rows · 12,165 peopleMostly an improvement: 3 of 4 rows, and most of the people. 1 found no difference.
- AGrade A× 1
- CGrade C× 2
- ∅No effect× 1
- Rows
- 4
- Trials
- 49
- People
- 12,165
- Pooled reviews may count some twice
Where they differ
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade A, is a meta-analysis of 3,189 people (2021) and found an improvement. 1 row is graded No effect, our grade for adequately powered trials that found no effect.
Only the 3 rows that found an improvement include pooled reviews of several trials (1 of 3); the row that found no difference is a single study.
The 3 rows that found an improvement are newer (2021 to 2025) than the row that found no difference (2013).
The rows
3 improved · 1 no difference- AGrade AMacular pigment optical density · Improved
Meta-analysis, 46 studies · n 3,189 · 2021 · Adults with healthy eyes in 46 studies (mean age 43)
Under 5 mg to 20 mg or more per day · 3–12 months
Macular pigment rose 0.04 units at 5 to under 20 mg/day and 0.11 units at 20 mg/day or more; intakes under 5 mg/day, mostly from food, gave no significant change.
Row on the Lutein and zeaxanthin page · PubMed 34157098 (opens PubMed)
- CGrade CLate AMD and lung cancer over 10 years: lutein/zeaxanthin vs beta-carotene · Improved
RCT · n 3,882 · 2022 · AREDS2 participants (mean age 72) with intermediate AMD, followed for 5 years after the trial
10 mg lutein + 2 mg zeaxanthin per day · 10 years (5-year trial plus 5-year follow-up)
Compared directly with beta-carotene, lutein/zeaxanthin was associated with lower progression to late AMD (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.98). Lung cancer odds rose with beta-carotene (OR 1.82) but not significantly with lutein/zeaxanthin (OR 1.15).
Row on the Lutein and zeaxanthin page · PubMed 35653117 (opens PubMed)
- CGrade CGeographic atrophy growth toward the centre of the macula · Improved
RCT · n 891 · 2025 · AREDS2 participants with geographic atrophy (1,210 eyes)
10 mg lutein + 2 mg zeaxanthin per day · AREDS2 trial period (annual photographs)
In eyes with non-central atrophy (325 eyes), atrophy moved toward the fovea more slowly with lutein/zeaxanthin than without (80.1 vs 114.4 µm per year). Growth of the total atrophy area did not differ.
Row on the Lutein and zeaxanthin page · PubMed 39025435 (opens PubMed)
- ∅No effectProgression to advanced age-related macular degeneration · No difference
RCT · n 4,203 · 2013 · Adults aged 50–85 at risk of advanced AMD
10 mg lutein + 2 mg zeaxanthin per day · Median 5 years
Adding lutein and zeaxanthin did not further reduce progression to advanced AMD in the primary analysis.
Row on the Lutein and zeaxanthin page · PubMed 23644932 (opens PubMed)