Bilberry for Eye Health Support
Bilberry anthocyanins ease screen-related eye fatigue and support retinal microcirculation, but do nothing for night vision despite the famous claim.
Overview
Verdict
How It Works
Dosing & Protocol
Typical dose
- Recommended dose
- 480 mg/day of standardised bilberry extract (around 36% anthocyanins), with food
- Expected timeframe
- 4-8 weeks
Protocol
- form
- Extract standardised to roughly 36% anthocyanosides - unstandardised bilberry powder is not equivalent
- timing
- With food, once daily or split with meals
- context
- A randomised trial in 88 display-screen workers found 480 mg/day significantly reduced subjective ocular fatigue. Objective visual function endpoints, including night vision, have not improved in controlled trials
- duration
- 8 weeks
- measurement
- A daily eye fatigue rating during screen work at baseline and week 8
- starting dose
- 480 mg/day of standardised extract with a meal, which is the dose used in the positive trial
Evidence
What the studies say
The effect of a natural, standardized bilberry extract (Mirtoselect) in dry eye: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial
Riva A, Togni S, Franceschi F
Bilberry extract improved tear break-up time and ocular discomfort versus placebo.
Bilberry extract supplementation for eye fatigue in video display terminal workers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Ozawa Y, Kawashima M, Inoue S
480 mg/day of bilberry anthocyanin extract significantly reduced subjective ocular fatigue in VDT workers.
The effect of anthocyanins in Vaccinium myrtillus on improving vision under low light conditions
Nakaishi H, Matsumoto H, Tominaga S +1 more
In a small placebo-controlled crossover study, a single dose of bilberry anthocyanin extract produced a measurable improvement in dark adaptation and reduced glare recovery time compared with placebo, with effects appearing within hours of dosing.
Bilberry anthocyanins and night vision: a systematic review of placebo-controlled trials
Canter PH, Ernst E
Four of five rigorous trials found no effect of bilberry anthocyanins on night vision in healthy subjects.
Safety
Caveats
The evidence is for subjective screen-related eye fatigue, not for vision quality, night vision, macular degeneration or cataract - the wartime RAF night-vision story is a myth that controlled trials have repeatedly failed to confirm. Bilberry has mild antiplatelet activity, so use caution with warfarin, DOACs, aspirin or antiplatelets, and stop 2 weeks before surgery. May lower blood glucose, so monitor if you take diabetes medication. Not established in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Screen fatigue also responds to breaks, lighting and a proper optometry check - rule out uncorrected refractive error first.
Less likely to help if
Medical Disclaimer
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Individual results may vary. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.