Evidence supporting the use of: Bilberry
For the health condition: Conjunctivitis

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) has a long history in traditional European herbal medicine, particularly for supporting eye health. Traditionally, bilberry fruit and extracts have been used to address a range of ocular concerns, including visual fatigue, poor night vision, and inflammatory eye conditions such as conjunctivitis. Folk remedies often attributed bilberry's benefits to its high content of anthocyanins—antioxidant compounds thought to support capillary strength and reduce inflammation. However, scientific evidence specifically validating bilberry's effectiveness in treating conjunctivitis (pink eye) is minimal. While some laboratory and animal studies suggest that bilberry extracts have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, clinical trials directly evaluating its efficacy for conjunctivitis in humans are lacking. Most current uses for bilberry in eye health supplements target general vision support and retinal health, not specifically conjunctivitis. Thus, its use for conjunctivitis is justified mainly by tradition rather than robust scientific validation. Anyone considering bilberry for eye inflammation should consult a healthcare provider, especially since conjunctivitis can have infectious causes that require medical treatment.

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