Bilberry Eye Health Effects

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This article summarizes some possible bilberry eye health positive effects, which is probably the most well-known bilberry benefits of the bilberry herb.

It is believed that anthocyanins are partly the reason why bilberry is considered effective in providing nutrient needs to protect eyes from eyestrain and fatigue, and also helps in boosting circulation to the eyes.
Anthocyanins help build strong healthy capillaries that carry nutrients to the eye muscles and nerves.

Bilberry also contains vitamins A and C. Vitamin A promotes sharp vision and vitamin C helps build collagen which is needed for regeneration of tissue cells and healthy blood vessels.

Presence of vitamins A and C in anthocyanins helps prevent free radical damage to eyes due to ageing, pollution, toxins etc, by fighting free radical damage with its antioxidant properties. This plays a good part in the bilberry eye health positive effects.

Since bilberry is known to improve the microcirculation and regeneration of the retinal purple, it consequently improves vision due to the same.

This is backed up by other sources which state that anthocyanosides, the flavonoid complex in bilberries, help hasten regeneration of rhodopsin, which is a purple pigment used by the eyes for the purpose of night vision.

Has bilberry been proven in trials to help people with night blindness? Earlier trials suggested so, although more recent trials which studied people with healthy eyesight found no obvious benefit on night vision.

Bilberry, due to its high anthocyanin content, also helps in preventing onset of eye diseases like glaucoma, myopia, retinitis and pigmentosa.

Anthocyanosides, which is also a pigment, helps to regenerate a pigment in the retina which is essential for the eye to adapt to light.

Additionally, in Europe, herbal preparations of bilberry fruit are known to improve eye conditions such as night blindness and diabetic retinopathy.

Some preliminary trials carried out in Europe have suggested that bilberry eye health effects may include helping to prevent cataracts, and that it may even be useful in helping to treat mild retinopathies, for example macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.