Self Help

Bilberry extracts have been widely used in Europe in the treatment of various eye conditions as well as for vascular disorders, peptic ulcers, and dysmenorrhea.

Perhaps the most significant clinical applications of bilberry extracts are in the field of ophthalmology. Although many aspects of vision remain a mystery, certain requirements must be met for normal vision to occur: light must interact with the specialized nerve cells of the eye - rods and cones - to create a nerve impulse, and the nerve impulse must then be transmitted to the visual areas of the brain. Many nutritional compounds are important in vision, both in terms of protecting the eye from damage as well as in the actual process of vision.

The health of the eye is largely dependent on a rich supply of nutrients and oxygen. Relatively speaking, the amount of blood flow through the eye is the greatest in the body. This high blood flow emphasizes the importance of nutrition and the circulatory system for optimal eye health and function. When normal mechanisms designed to deliver oxygen and other nutrients to the eye fail, or if protective mechanisms intended to protect the eye from damage begin to fail, a variety of disorders develop including cataracts and macular degeneration. These disorders are almost always associated with aging.

Bilberry extracts appear to offer significant benefit to the eyes, presumably via an ability to improve the delivery of oxygen and blood to the eye. The extracts also exert other important pharmacological effects, including acting as an antioxidant. The origin of many eye diseases including cataract formation and macular degeneration is ultimately related to damage caused by free radicals. In a nutshell, a free radical is a highly reactive molecule that can bind to and destroy body components. Free radical or “oxidative” damage is what makes us age. In addition to their role in causing cataracts and macular degeneration, free radicals have also been shown to be responsible for the initiation of many diseases, including the two biggest killers of Americans - heart disease and cancer.

Bilberry extracts may also play a significant role in the prevention and treatment of glaucoma via its effect on collagen structures in the eye. In the eye, collagen provides tensile strength and integrity to the tissues. Some of the first scientific studies on bilberry extract confirmed the effects noticed by Royal Air Force pilots during World War II. The administration of bilberry extract to healthy subjects resulted in improved nighttime visual acuity, quicker adjustment to darkness, and faster restoration of visual acuity after exposure to glare. Further studies confirmed these results. Results were most impressive in individuals with retinitis pigmentosa and hemeralopia. Hemeralopia refers to “day blindness,” or an inability to see as distinctly in bright light as in dim light.