Bilberry - the Eye Protector

Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) are a particular species of blueberry and are often known as the European blueberry. They are highly valued for their high content of bluish-purple pigments named anthocyanidins.

The modern history of bilberry began during World War II when British pilots who ate bilberry jam found that it improved their visual acuity during night missions. This led researchers to explore its mechanisms of action and to confirm its effectiveness for a wide range of eye disorders.

Several requirements must be met before normal vision can occur. Light must interact with nerve cells in the eye (named rods and cones). This creates nerve impulses that must be transmitted to the brain's visual processing areas. A rich supply of nutrients and oxygen are required for these processes to occur and delivery of these nutrients and oxygen to the eye requires very good blood circulation to the eye. When normal mechanisms designed to deliver oxygen or nutrients to the eye fail, eyesight suffers. Even in the presence of optimal blood circulation, the eye is under constant bombardment from free radicals that arrive either through blood circulation or externally from sunlight.

How does Bilberry help your Eyes?

The underlying mechanisms for bilberry's ability to improve eyesight involve its ability to:

• Improve blood circulation to the eye.
• Improve blood circulation to the eye.
• Improve the integrity of the collagen structures in the eye and in the capillaries that supply the eye. Improve blood circulation to the eye.
• Provide antioxidant benefits that protect the eye from free radicals injury.
• Improve the regeneration of rhodopsin - the visual pigment that is required for night vision to occur.

These effects are all provided by the anthocyanidins content of bilberry.

To date, bilberry has been found to be useful for these conditions:

People with Normal Vision Benefit

Bilberry is the world's most popular herb for general eyesight improvement in people with no overt eye disorders. It accelerates the ability to adapt to dark lighting conditions and improves visual acuity in dim light. If you are exposed to glare, bilberry helps your eyes to more rapidly adapt to that glare and helps to restore proper vision after exposure to glare. This occurs from bilberry increasing the efficiency of the photomotor responses of the pupils (allowing them to widen and narrow more rapidly in response to changing light conditions). These effects have been demonstrated in clinical trials conducted on air traffic controllers, pilots and automobile drivers. People who are sensitive to bright lights or who have trouble driving at night may find bilberry particularly useful.

Eye Fatigue

Eye fatigue is becoming increasingly prevalent as more and more people are spending their days at computer terminals, paperwork and stressful driving. Bilberry has been found to reduce eye strain from all of these causes.

Eye Inflammation

Eye inflammation is characterized by stinging, irritation and watery or thick discharges. It often occurs from excessive exposure to fluorescent lights, tobacco smoke, chlorine in pools, allergies or poor function (leakiness) of the capillaries that supply the eyes. Bilberry helps to stabilise the capillaries of the eye and thereby reduces their leakiness that results in eye inflammation.

Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of visual impairment in developed countries. The older you are, the more likely you are to experience this disorder. It occurs from the degeneration of the macula region of the eye's retina caused by the death of rods and cones in this area of the eye. ARMD initially causes diminished vision from the central field of vision and then widens to interfere with peripheral vision. This manifests firstly as blurred vision and distorted vision. Straight lines often appear wavy. It can eventually lead to frontal blindness. Bilberry has been shown to help to prevent ARMD.

Cataracts

Cataracts are another common age-related eyesight disorder. By the age of 75, most people have some signs of cataracts. They cause blurred vision and can eventually lead to blindness. In one study, the combination of bilberry with vitamin E halted the further progression of cataracts in 97% of people with senile cataracts.

Day Blindness

Day blindness (known medically as hemeralopia) is the opposite to night blindness. It involves comparatively good vision in poor light but poor vision in good light. Day blindness is usually congenital and often occurs in conjunction with colour blindness. Two clinical studies conducted in the 1960s have found to improve daytime eyesight in people with hemeralopia.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is characterised by an increase in the pressure of the fluid within the eyeball. This increased pressure causes abnormalities in the optic nerve and defects in the field of vision. Damage to the collagen structure of the eye is one of the underlying causes of glaucoma. Bilberry's anthocyanidins improve the integrity of collagen structures in the eye. Bilberry show promise for the prevention and treatment of glaucoma.

Night Blindness

Night blindness (nyctalopia) involves the inability to see in dim light or at night due to a disorder of the rods cells that are responsible for vision in dim light. Bilberry's anthocyanidins have an affinity for the area of the retina that contains rhodopsin, the visual pigment that is responsible for night vision. Bilberry helps to regenerate this rhodopsin, accounting for its ability to improve vision in people with night blindness.

Retinitis Pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa is a severe disease of the retina that can lead to night blindness and profound loss of sight and eventual blindness. Bilberry has been demonstrated to cause and enlargement in the range of vision and improved adaptation to darkness in retinitis pigmentosa patients.

Retinopathy

Retinopathy involves the progressive degeneration of the retina. Diabetes patients are particularly prone to this eyesight disorder. Bilberry is widely used in Europe for the prevention of retinopathy. A clinical study has verified the ability of bilberry to improve some aspects of retinopathy. It is particularly effective for people with diabetic retinopathy.

Short-Sightedness

Short-sightedness (myopia) occurs when objects further than six metres from the eye are blurred and cannot be made sharp by focusing. It occurs as a result of refractive errors of the eye due to excessive curvature of the cornea. Bilberry's anthocyanidins are useful for the treatment of short-sightedness, possibly by improving the structural integrity of the cornea.

How to use Bilberry

• Most bilberry products are standardised to contain 25% of their active constituents, the anthocyanidins. For treating and preventing most eyesight disorders, the recommended dosage is 240 - 480 mg per day (equating to 60 - 120 mg of anthocyanidins per day). This should be taken as three equally divided doses.