Bilberry Benefits for Eyes

Bilberry may provide several benefits for eye health:

• Bilberry extract may help reduce eye fatigue and dryness in people working with video display terminals. Taking a combination of fish oil, lutein, and bilberry extract daily for 4 weeks reduced dry eye, lower back pain, shoulder stiffness, and stuffy head in people with eye strain.

• Bilberry may improve vision in people with glaucoma. Taking 60 mg of bilberry anthocyanin twice daily for at least 12 months improved vision in people with glaucoma.

• Bilberry has been suggested as a treatment for retinopathy (damage to the retina) because anthocyanosides appear to help protect the retina. Bilberry has also exhibited protective effects against macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts, although more studies are needed.

• The anthocyanosides in bilberry may help build strong blood vessels and improve circulation to the eyes. They also have antioxidant properties that prevent or reduce damage to cells from free radicals. Anthocyanidins boost the production of rhodopsin, a pigment that improves night vision and helps the eye adapt to light changes.

However, the claim that bilberry improves night vision is not supported by strong evidence. More research is needed to confirm many of the potential eye health benefits of bilberry.