Eye Bright

Bilberry (vaccinium myrtillus) is a close relative of the American blueberry with its dark purple fruits which is the size of large peas. Modern medical research on bilberry began during World War II when is was noted that the British Royal Air Force pilots had improved night vision by consuming bilberry jam prior to night bombing raids. This led to the many research done on the medical use of bilberry for a variety of visual disorders.

Bilberry extract has become the leading herbal prescription for the maintenance of healthy vision and for the treatment of many eye disorders. In the 1960s, French researchers discovered that bilberry extracts improved the ability to adjusts visually to dark or bright lights (Sala D, Rolando, 1979)

Bilberry has shown to help with retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness among diabetics which is characterised by damage to the capillaries in the retina. A study indicated that daily use of bilberry extract lead to a reduction in capillary fragility and haemorrhaging (Scharrer A, Ober M, 1981).

Cataracts is one of the leading cause of blindness which affects millions of people and is a result when the normal transparency of the lens becomes cloudy. A major factor of cataract is due to free radical damage to the lens whereby studies have shown bilberry to be a potent antioxidant for the eyes and reduces the progression of cataract. Macular degeneration is another cause of eye disorder largely due to free radical damage which affects adults over 50 years of age. Clinical studies have found bilberry to offer significant protection against the development of macular degeneration.

Bilberry extract improves blood circulation. It is a useful supplement for the elderly with poor circulation to the extremities in particular conditions associated with veins such as varicose veins and hemorrhoids. Studies have shown positive results on bilberry extracts in the prevention and treatment of varicose veins and hemorrhoids during pregnancy (Grismond GL, 1981)