bilberry and eye health

Bilberry also known as European blueberry, Huckleberry, Whortleberry, Burren Myrtle and with the scientific name Vaccinium myrtillus has been used for hundreds of years as food and for their high nutritive value. It has also been used as a folk medicinal treatment for disorders of the urinary system, including urinary infections and kidney stones, and for diarrhea and dysentery. Bilberry is different from the American blueberry because the meat is dark purple, whereas the American version has cream color. In Europe, bilberries are part of the conventional medical treatment of different eye disorders, such as cataracts, macular degeneration, night blindness and diabetic retinopathy. The substance that gives bilberries its pharmacological activity is its anthocyanosides. Anthocyanosides strengthen the walls of blood vessels, reduce inflammation, and stabilize all tissues containing collagen, such as cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. In two controlled studies, bilberry improved visual acuity at night, and it also shortened the time the eyes needed to adapt to dark lighting conditions and recover from glare all important if you want to drive safely in the dark.