Abstract
Abstract
Purpose:
To investigate clinically the effects of yeast-fermented bilberry extract on visual outcomes in myopic eyes.
Methods:
In a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study, we examined 30 eyes of 30 middle-aged healthy volunteers (mean age±standard deviation, 39.5±7.2 years) with myopia [manifest spherical equivalent, −2.40±1.88 diopters (D)], who were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 oral regimens: fermented bilberry extract (400 mg/day) or placebo. We quantitatively assessed visual acuity, refraction, pupil constriction rate, accommodation, and mesopic contrast sensitivity (CS), before and 1 month after treatment. Only the right eyes were tested. The amplitude of accommodation and CS were measured with an accommodometer (D'ACOMO; WOC) and a CS unit (VCTS-6500; Vistech), respectively. From the CS, the area under the log contrast sensitivity function (AULCSF) was calculated.
Results:
The mean amplitude of accommodation increased significantly, from 4.62±1.88 D before treatment, to 5.33±2.03 D after treatment in the study group (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, P=0.002). Moreover, the mesopic AULCSF was significantly increased, from 1.04±0.16 before, to 1.13±0.17 after, treatment (P=0.009). However, we found no significant changes in accommodation or AULCSF in the control group (P>0.05), or any significant changes in any other parameters in either group (P>0.05).
Conclusions:
The present data show that fermented bilberry extract is effective in causing increases in subjective accommodation and in mesopic CS in myopic eyes.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.