During the Second World War, the empirical observation that
ingestion of bilberry jam (made from Vaccinium myrtillus berries)
improved the sight of RAF pilots on night flights led to an interest
in their ophthalmologic properties. Subsequently, the effect of
anthocyanins in improving vision has been evaluated by instrumental
techniques, such as computerised perimetry, suggesting that the standardized extract containing 36% anthocyanins may play an important role in improving the retinal sensibility in myopic patients^(1-2).

More recently, some investigators reported that the
administration of Mirtoselect^® could help to recover reduced
visual function in eyesight due to overuse of the eyes. These studies
reported an improvement in subjective symptoms such as
vision with sparks, dimming of the eyesight, ocular fatigue in computer
operators, office workers and students. (Fig 1)⁽³⁾. 

Fig. 1: Percentage of patients with improvement in symptoms associated
to eyesight fatigue. The results show statistically significant differences between
patients treated with Mirtoselect^® compared with patients treated with the placebo.

In addition, a significant visual acuity recovery has been shown in school
children with pseudomyopia, suggesting that a long-term intake of
bilberry extract may be useful in preventing an advancement to
axial myopia⁽⁴⁾.

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1. Virno M., Pecori GiraldiJ., Auriemma L., Boll. Ocul. 65, 789 (1986).
2. Gandolfo E. Boll. Ocul. 69: 57, 1990
3. Kajimoto O., Scientific Report Collection No 19 ., Osaka Univ. for Foreign Studies 19, 143 (1998) - Food Style 3, 21 (1999).
4. Kajimoto S., Sasaki K., Takahashi T., J. New Rem. & Clin. 49, 1 (2000).

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