Bilberry, known as
Vaccinium myrtillus, is a shrubby perennial plant one to two feet in height and
can be found in the mountains and forests of Europe and the northern United
States. The
berries and leaves are used medicinally, but the berries have been found to be
most beneficial for eye health. Historical uses include military soldiers in
the field that ate the jam of the berries to help with night vision. The sweet
and tart tasting berries of the plant are commonly used in supplements and
tinctures. The berries contain vitamin C and anthyocyanins, giving them potent
anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Common eye concerns
include glaucoma and cataracts. Glaucoma is a condition that damages the optic
nerve that sends signals from the eye to the brain. It is the second leading
cause of blindness in the United States. The condition is a result of increased
intraocular pressure (IOP) in the eye. Depending on the reason for the increased
IOP, the condition can be asymptomatic or can cause symptoms such as pain in
the eye, cloudy vision, nausea or vomiting, halos around light, or a swollen
feeling. Visual deficits are usually in the peripheral fields. The best way to
diagnose glaucoma is with an eye exam and a series of testing to check not only
for eye pressure changes, but for other signs of damage.
Cataracts are common in
the aging population. The lens of the eye becomes clouded, causing blurry
vision, colors that appear faded, glaring, impaired night vision, and double
vision. Compared to glaucoma, the blurring usually occurs in the central line
of sight. Changes take place slowly over time. People with metabolic disorders
and unstable blood sugar, such as diabetes, are especially at risk for
developing cataracts.
Bilberry helps the eye
by strengthening collagen cross linking and increasing the integrity of the
vascular system. It is also anti-oxidant
leading to decreased damage to the vascular system generated by free radicals.
One recent study published by researchers in Japan, found that anthocyanin-rich
bilberry extract has a protective effect on visual
function during retinal inflammation. They also found that bilberry extract prevented the impairment of ocular
photoreceptor cell function.
The berries reduce
damage to the vascular supply to the eyes and are utilized to treat cataracts. Significant
improvements have been seen with both diabetic retinopathy, damage to the
retina as a result of diabetes, and hypertensive retinopathy, damage to the
retina as a result of high blood pressure, in patients supplemented with
Vaccinium extracts. One specific study examined
patients taking 115 mg anthocyanins per day for one month and found beneficial
improvements in eye health.
Bilberry is generally
safe, but should be discussed with a healthcare professional. Bilberry is in
the same family as other commonly consumed berries such as blueberries and
cranberries. Stock up on berries this fall and eat your way to better eye
health!
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