The macula is located on the retinal tissue that lines the back of the eye. A healthy macula helps provide the central vision you use each day for reading, watching TV and driving. Macular degeneration breaks down the cells in the macula, resulting in permanent vision loss. Because treatment options do not typically restore lost vision, prevention is a key factor in maintaining good eyesight, and bilberry may offer some amount of protection.
Wet Macular Degeneration
The breakdown of the cells in the macula may promote the growth of abnormal blood vessels. These fragile vessels may break, leaking blood under the macula, lifting the macula out of position. This form of macular degeneration, called wet macular degeneration, usually appears suddenly and will often result in distorted vision, such as straight lines appearing bent or wavy.
Bilberry Benefits
Bilberry cannot restore vision lost to wet macular degeneration, but bilberry may play a role in preventing the condition. This fruit contains anthocyanidins, pigments that help prevent inflammation and protect blood vessels, and the chemical make-up also offers the same protection of antioxidants, helping to slow down or prevent the breakdown of cells, explains the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. As a result, the anthocyanidins in bilberry could promote macular health by strengthening blood vessels and promoting healthy cells in the macula.
Dosage
To use bilberry to prevent macular degeneration, you may wish to consider using capsules that contain bilberry extract with 25 percent anthocyanidin. The dosage will range from 80 to 480 mg, divided into two or three doses each day, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. Your eye doctor can help you determine the appropriate dose for your condition.
Considerations
In addition to bilberry supplements, you might wish to use other nutrients that may aid in prevention. The National Eye Institute released a study in 2001 that showed that vitamins A, C and E, along with zinc and copper, may reduce the occurrence of advanced macular degeneration damage by around 25 percent. Lutein and zeaxanthin also might help protect your eyes from macular degeneration damage.
Warning
Talk with your doctor before adding bilberry to your daily supplements because bilberry may interact with some medications. If you use blood thinners or take medications for diabetes, your doctor may recommend low doses of bilberry or recommend avoiding bilberry altogether because this supplement might intensify the effects of blood thinners or cause blood sugar levels to drop dramatically.
