| According to the latest British Journal of Nutrition | | | | nearsightedness are also at greater risk for acute |
| (2005;93:895-9), supplementing with an extract of | | | | eye problems such as glaucoma or retinal |
| bilberry fruit (Vaccinium myrtillus) may improve | | | | detachment, and often experience floaters, |
| night vision in nearsighted people. That's good | | | | dryness, tearing, and of course, poor night vision. |
| news for those of you who may have to cope | | | | The new study from the Department of |
| with bothersome night blindness! | | | | Ophthalmology, Institute of Vision Research, |
| Bilberry, a close relative of the blueberry, is a | | | | Yonsei University in Seoul Korea was aimed at |
| small shrub that grows throughout central and | | | | determining the effects of bilberry extract on |
| northern Europe, northern Asia, and North | | | | night vision and other symptoms associated with |
| America. Traditionally, due to its powerful tannin | | | | nearsightedness. The study examined 60 |
| content, bilberry has been used to treat diarrhea, | | | | individuals with mild to moderate myopia. Thirty of |
| hemorrhoids, and urinary tract infections. Others | | | | the participants received 100mg of bilberry |
| preliminary studies have indicated bilberry's | | | | extract (containing 85% anthocyanosides) two |
| effectiveness in addressing microcirculatory | | | | times per day, and the remaining thirty received a |
| conditions, such as macular degeneration, | | | | placebo pill. Contrast sensitivity, a measure of |
| cataracts, glaucoma, and other retinal disorders. | | | | nocturnal vision, was tested before and after |
| The active compounds of bilberry, | | | | treatment. The participants also answered |
| Anthocyanosides, are potent antioxidants which | | | | questions regarding the frequency and severity of |
| have been noted to promote and strengthen | | | | their eye symptoms including eye strain, dryness, |
| capillaries and blood vessels. | | | | tearing, blurry vision, and decreased vision in dark |
| While the majority of bilberry's research has been | | | | places. |
| conducted in vitro, there has been a close | | | | Twenty-two (73%) of the 30 participants |
| correlation between bilberry and its ability to | | | | receiving the bilberry supplement showed |
| regenerate a compound in the eye (rhodopsin) | | | | significantly greater improvement in eye |
| that is responsible for night vision. Specifically, | | | | symptoms and contrast sensitivity, suggesting an |
| rhodopsin, also known as visual purple, lies within | | | | improvement in night vision. In contrast, only 1 of |
| the rod cells of your eye, and is extremely | | | | the 30 participants in the placebo group showed |
| sensitive to low levels of light. In fact, when | | | | any signs of improvement. Additionally, no side |
| exposed to white light, rhodopsin is immediately | | | | effects were associated with use of the bilberry |
| bleached and takes approximately 30 minutes to | | | | supplement. |
| regenerate in humans. | | | | This study provides good evidence that bilberry |
| Nearsightedness, or myopia, affects up to one | | | | may help to improve night vision in those afflicted |
| quarter of Americans. Those afflicted with myopia | | | | with myopia. Previous studies on healthy individuals |
| often describe distant objects as being blurry, yet | | | | indicated that bilberry has no effect on night |
| most with myopia are able to see nearby objects | | | | vision, however, these studies utilized bilberry |
| quite clearly. This condition occurs from the eye | | | | preparations with much lower concentrations of |
| being longer than the focal point, and is shaped | | | | anthocyanosides (5 to 30%), and they were |
| much like a football. Individuals with | | | | administered for shorter periods of time. |