Ask the doctor: Can I take PreserVision for my eyes even though I take warfarin?
Q. I am 95 years old and recently began treatment for early macular degeneration in one eye. My retinologist said that PreserVision might help protect the other eye. But she cautioned that it contains a large dose of vitamin E, which could cause a bleeding problem with the Coumadin I take because of a mechanical aortic valve. What would you suggest?
A. Macular degeneration is an eye disorder that makes it difficult to see straight ahead or fine details. In 2001, a report from the Aging-Related Eye Disease Study, a large trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, showed that a combination of vitamin A (as beta carotene), vitamin C, vitamin E, copper, and zinc helped prevent early macular degeneration from progressing to an advanced form of the disease in about 25% of the participants. Many eye doctors now recommend the use of this combination in people with early macular degeneration.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
New subscriptions to Harvard Health Online are temporarily unavailable. Click the button below to learn about our other subscription offers.