Bilberry Extract
Commonly used for
Eye Health
Where to Buy
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The cheapest product is usually low quality, but more expensive doesn’t always mean better.
What is it? / Overview
Bilberry anthocyanins are potent antioxidants that reduce capillary permeability and fragility and inhibit platelet aggregation. The popular vision-improvement claim isn't well supported by controlled trials -- one review specifically traces it to unproven historical claims -- while the better, if still modest, evidence is for dyslipidemia, inflammation, and possibly screen-related eye fatigue.
How is it used? / Administration
Form: Vaccinium myrtillus fruit extract standardized to anthocyanins (often ~25-36%)
Typical dose studied: Commonly ~160-480 mg standardized extract/day -- no established dose specifically for eye outcomes
Timing: Daily with food
Ships with minimal triggers given how much of its popularity rests on an unverified vision-improvement claim -- honest positioning matters more here than for most entries in this batch.
How well does it work? / Evidence
? Emerging / limited evidence
Who should avoid it?
Avoid with: Bleeding disorder / Coagulopathy
Interacts with: Anticoagulants, antiplatelets -- anthocyanins inhibit platelet aggregation, theoretical additive bleeding risk; Antidiabetic agents -- leaf extracts specifically may affect glucose, theoretical additive effect
Already taking it? Worth being honest here: bilberry's famous 'improves night vision' reputation traces to unverified WWII-era pilot folklore, not solid controlled trial evidence. The better-supported (still modest) effects are on lipids/inflammation and possibly screen-related eye fatigue, not sharper vision.
Research & references
Vaneková Z, Rollinger JM (2022). Bilberries: Curative and Miraculous - A Review on Bioactive Constituents and Clinical Research. Frontiers in Pharmacology. Choo PP et al. (2021). Review of Evidence for the Usage of Antioxidants for Eye Aging. BioMed Research International.
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