PreserVision Formulations

There are several PreserVision formulations available, including tablets, soft gels, and soft gels with lutein. The tablets and soft gels are generally taken twice a day (with two tablets or one soft gel per dose). PreserVision soft gels with lutein are best for people who smoke because beta-carotene, a vitamin found in tablets and regular soft gels, may increase the risk of cancer in smokers.

 

An Overview of PreserVision Formulations

Ocuvite® PreserVision® is a non-prescription vitamin and mineral supplement. In a large study, it was shown to slow the damage of age-related macular degeneration (AMD or simply "macular degeneration"). It comes in the following formulations:
 
  • PreserVision tablets
  • PreserVision soft gels
  • PreserVision soft gels with lutein.
     

PreserVision Tablets or Soft Gels (Without Lutein)

Each dose of PreserVision (either two tablets or one soft gel) contains the following active ingredients:
 
  • Vitamin A (beta-carotene) -- 14,320 IU ("international units")
  • Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) -- 226 mg
  • Vitamin E (dl-alpha tocopherol acetate) -- 200 IU
  • Zinc (as zinc oxide) -- 34.8 mg
  • Copper (cupric oxide) -- 0.8 mg.
     
The recommended dose of PreserVision tablets is two tablets twice daily, and the recommended dose of PreserVision soft gels is one soft gel twice daily. There is no difference between these formulations, except the soft gels are easier to swallow and require only one soft gel per dose (instead of two tablets per dose).
 

PreserVision Soft Gels With Lutein

PreserVision soft gels also come with lutein, instead of beta-carotene. Lutein is similar to beta-carotene and may theoretically be more beneficial than beta-carotene. Also, since beta-carotene may increase the risk of cancer in smokers, this formulation may be best for people who smoke. It is important to understand that the formulation used in the study that evaluated PreserVision contained beta-carotene, not lutein. Each dose of PreserVision Lutein soft gels (with one soft gel per dose) contains the following active ingredients:
 
  • Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) -- 226 mg
  • Vitamin E (dl-alpha tocopherol acetate) -- 200 IU
  • Zinc (as zinc oxide) -- 34.8 mg
  • Copper (cupric oxide) -- 0.8 mg
  • Lutein -- 5 mg.
     
The recommended dose of PreserVision soft gels with lutein is one soft gel twice daily.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;