Lutein's partner, packed at the very middle of the macula.
Retina ClearIn plain words
Zeaxanthin is a carotenoid with almost the same shape as lutein. It is found in orange peppers, corn, saffron and goji, and it clusters at the exact centre of the retina where your sharpest vision sits.
Retina ClearWhat the evidence shows
In AREDS2 the dose was 2 mg alongside 10 mg lutein. Imaging studies show that taking both raises pigment density in most adults, though the gain in real-world sight for healthy eyes has not been demonstrated.
In this capsule
It is listed next to lutein, again without a milligram figure, so the lutein-to-zeaxanthin ratio used in research (roughly 5 to 1) cannot be confirmed.
Watch-outs: Well tolerated at supplement intakes. There is no known reason for concern beyond the usual: tell your clinician what you take.
Common question
Do I need zeaxanthin if I take lutein?
Most formulas include both because they occur together in food and share the same tissue, and AREDS2 tested them as a pair.