In the 1940s, RAF pilots reportedly ate bilberry jam before night missions, convinced it sharpened their vision.1 That story has long since entered nutritional folklore - but behind the myth lies a question that remains relevant today: does bilberry still have a role in supporting vision in the modern world?
Our visual environment has changed dramatically. Patients now spend upwards of 8 hours a day on digital devices, exposed to sustained visual demand, artificial light, and cumulative oxidative stress.2 Complaints of eye strain, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and dry, irritated eyes are increasingly common across all age groups.2–4
For clinicians, the question is no longer whether a nutrient “improves eyesight,” but whether it supports the physiological resilience of the eye - particularly the retina, ocular surface, and underlying microvasculature, and especially in the context of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), chronic screen use, and other sources of visual stress.