This comparison is a little different from most, because the two products start from exactly the same place. Pure Encapsulations Lutein/Zeaxanthin and Performance Lab Vision both deliver 10 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin per capsule. The real question is what you want sitting alongside those two carotenoids: nothing, or a fuller set of eye-focused ingredients.
Neither product is an AREDS2 formula, and both are meant for everyday eye nutrition. Here is how they line up.
Performance Lab Vision vs Pure Encapsulations Lutein/Zeaxanthin at a Glance
| Feature | Performance Lab Vision | Pure Encapsulations Lutein/Zeaxanthin |
|---|---|---|
| Lutein | 10 mg | 10 mg |
| Zeaxanthin | 2 mg | 2 mg |
| Astaxanthin | 4 mg | None |
| Saffron | 10 mg | None |
| Bilberry extract | 25 mg | None |
| Blackcurrant | 300 mg freeze-dried fruit plus 25 mg extract | None |
| Vegan | Yes | Yes |
| Capsule | Pullulan capsule | Hypromellose capsule |
| Capsules per bottle | 30 | 60 |
| One-time price | $49 | $39 |
| Cost per day | About $1.63 one time, $1.23 on subscription | About $0.65 |
What Is in Performance Lab Vision
Vision delivers six research-backed ingredients in one daily capsule:
- Lutein, 10 mg, and zeaxanthin, 2 mg, from marigold flower extract
- Astaxanthin, 4 mg, from Haematococcus pluvialis algae
- European bilberry extract, 25 mg, standardized to 25% anthocyanosides
- European blackcurrant, 300 mg freeze-dried fruit plus 25 mg extract (25% anthocyanins)
- Saffron, 10 mg, standardized to 0.3% safranal
The capsule is a plant-based pullulan shell, and the only other ingredient is a rice concentrate that acts as a flow agent. Performance Lab lists Vision as non-GMO and free of soy, gluten, and common allergens, and says it is third-party tested for purity and potency.
What Is in Pure Encapsulations Lutein/Zeaxanthin
Pure Encapsulations keeps it to two active ingredients: 10 mg of lutein, sourced from FloraGLO, and 2 mg of zeaxanthin, sourced from OPTISHARP. Retail listings show microcrystalline cellulose, beetroot powder, and a hypromellose capsule as the remaining ingredients. The product is vegan, and the label directs one capsule a day with a meal. A bottle holds 60 capsules, which is a two-month supply.
Lutein and zeaxanthin are the pigments that collect in the macula, the center of the retina, where they absorb blue light. Researchers call them macular carotenoids, and a six-month trial in adults with heavy screen time linked supplementation to higher macular pigment density and less eye strain, fatigue, and headache frequency, according to a summary from the American Optometric Association. That trial used 24 mg a day, so treat it as support for the nutrient family, not a promise about any one bottle.
The amounts in both products match the lutein and zeaxanthin in the AREDS2 research formula, according to the National Eye Institute. Neither product includes that formula’s vitamins and minerals, so neither is an AREDS2 formula. Pure Encapsulations does name its lutein and zeaxanthin brands on the label, while Vision lists both as marigold flower extract. On the carotenoids themselves, though, this is a tie.
What Vision Adds: Astaxanthin, Saffron, Bilberry, and Blackcurrant
Everything that separates these two lives in the capsule beyond lutein and zeaxanthin. Vision adds four more eye-focused ingredients: 4 mg of astaxanthin, 10 mg of saffron, 25 mg of bilberry extract, and blackcurrant in two forms. Pure Encapsulations adds none of them.
Pure Encapsulations is a lutein and zeaxanthin supplement by design. Vision is built as a complete everyday eye formula, with carotenoids, a second carotenoid in astaxanthin, berry anthocyanins, and saffron all printed with individual doses on the label.
Building Vision From Separate Supplements
You could pair Pure Encapsulations with other products to cover the same ground. You would need separate bottles of astaxanthin, bilberry, blackcurrant, and saffron, each with its own dose, price, and capsule count. That means a bigger supplement shelf, more daily pills, and more to keep track of. Vision puts all of it into a single daily capsule.
Price Per Day: Pure Encapsulations vs Vision
Pure Encapsulations is the lower-priced product. At $39 for 60 capsules it works out to about $0.65 a day, and the 120-capsule bottle at $68.50 comes to about $0.57 a day. Vision is $49 for 30 capsules, about $1.63 a day as a one-time purchase. On Performance Lab’s smart subscription it is $36.75 a bottle, about $1.23 a day, with free shipping and 25% off every recurring order. Performance Lab also advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee.
So Pure Encapsulations costs about half as much per day as Vision on subscription. The extra cost buys four additional ingredients, each with its own printed dose, in the same single daily capsule.
Vegan Capsules and Clean Labels
Both products are vegan. Vision uses NutriCaps, a prebiotic pullulan capsule made from fermented tapioca, and lists itself as free of soy, gluten, synthetic additives, artificial colors, and preservatives. Pure Encapsulations uses a hypromellose capsule and states that it is free of common allergens and artificial colors. Both are clean choices, so capsule quality is not a deciding factor here.
Who Should Choose Performance Lab Vision
Vision is the better fit if you:
- Want astaxanthin, saffron, bilberry, and blackcurrant in the same capsule as lutein and zeaxanthin
- Would rather take one capsule than assemble a stack of separate eye supplements
- Like a label that prints every ingredient and dose, with no proprietary blends
- Want a 30-day money-back guarantee and subscription savings on a broader formula
Pure Encapsulations may suit you if all you want is lutein and zeaxanthin at the lowest daily cost, and you do not need anything beyond them.
Final Verdict on Vision vs Pure Encapsulations
The carotenoids are identical, so the decision comes down to scope. Pure Encapsulations offers a simple, affordable lutein and zeaxanthin supplement. Performance Lab Vision gives you those same two nutrients at the same doses, then adds astaxanthin, saffron, bilberry, and blackcurrant in a vegan capsule, all in one daily dose.
For most people who want complete everyday eye nutrition without managing multiple bottles, Performance Lab Vision is the better fit. You can see the full Performance Lab Vision formula and current pricing here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vision and Pure Encapsulations
Do Vision and Pure Encapsulations Have the Same Lutein and Zeaxanthin?
Yes. Both provide 10 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin per capsule.
What Does Vision Have That Pure Encapsulations Does Not?
Vision adds 4 mg of astaxanthin, 10 mg of saffron, 25 mg of bilberry extract, and blackcurrant in whole freeze-dried and extract forms. Pure Encapsulations contains only lutein and zeaxanthin.
Is Pure Encapsulations Lutein/Zeaxanthin an AREDS2 Formula?
No. It matches the lutein and zeaxanthin amounts in the AREDS2 research formula but contains none of its vitamins and minerals. Vision is not an AREDS2 formula either. If you have been diagnosed with a macular condition, talk with your eye doctor before choosing an eye supplement.
Which Costs Less per Day?
Pure Encapsulations costs about $0.65 a day for the 60-capsule bottle. Vision is about $1.63 a day as a one-time purchase and about $1.23 a day on Performance Lab’s smart subscription.
Are Both Supplements Vegan?
Yes. Vision uses a pullulan capsule and Pure Encapsulations uses a hypromellose capsule, and both are vegan.
Should I Take Vision and Pure Encapsulations Together?
There is no need to. Vision already contains the same lutein and zeaxanthin, so taking both would double those amounts. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining eye supplements, especially if you take medication, are pregnant, or are nursing.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Vision and Pure Encapsulations Lutein/Zeaxanthin are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is for information only and is not medical advice.
