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Anthocyanins and Bilberry Extracts: Retinal Resilience and Aging MicrovasculatureThe flavonoids anthocyanins (pigments in berries) have long been claimed to benefit eye health, and modern studies suggest they do concentrate in ocular and vascular tissues (). These compounds are powerful antioxidants and anti‐inflammatory agents: they scavenge free radicals, stabilize blood vessel walls, and even inhibit platelet aggregation and inflammatory mediators (). In the retina – a high‐metabolism organ especially vulnerable to oxidative stress – anthocyanins from bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) may bolster the defense against aging and disease. Antioxidant and Anti‐Inflammatory Effects in the RetinaAnimal research confirms that bilberry anthocyanins protect retinal cells by enhancing antioxidant systems and damping inflammation. In a rabbit model of light‐induced retinal damage, oral bilberry extract (high in anthocyanins) preserved retinal function and structure. Treated rabbits showed higher levels of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase) and total antioxidant capacity than controls, along with lower malondialdehyde (a marker of lipid oxidation) (). At the same time, pro‐inflammatory and angiogenic signals such as interleukin‐1β and VEGF were suppressed (). These changes indicate that bilberry anthocyanins can neutralize excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the retina and prevent the downstream inflammation that would otherwise damage retinal cells. In a mouse model of retinal inflammation (endotoxin‐induced uveitis), anthocyanin‐rich bilberry extract preserved photoreceptor health. Treated mice had better electroretinogram (ERG) responses (reflecting photoreceptor function) and intact photoreceptor outer segments compared to untreated mice. This protective effect was linked to blockade of inflammatory signaling (specifically, bilberry suppressed IL-6/STAT3 activation) and reduction of ROS‐driven NF-κB activation (). In short, bilberry anthocyanins curtailed the molecular cascade of inflammation and oxidative stress that would otherwise impair vision. Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) – the neurons whose axons form the optic nerve – also appear to benefit from anthocyanins. In a mouse optic nerve‐crush model (mimicking glaucoma‐like injury), oral bilberry extract dramatically increased RGC survival. This neuroprotective effect was accompanied by upregulation of endoplasmic‐reticulum chaperones (Grp78 and Grp94) around the RGC layer and a decrease in stress/apoptosis genes (Chop, Bax, Atf4) (). In other words, anthocyanins helped activated cellular “stress machines” that prevent cell death under injury. These experimental results suggest bilberry anthocyanins can support RGC resilience in situations of oxidative or ER stress (as in glaucoma), likely through antioxidant and anti‐apoptotic pathways ().Vascular Effects on the Optic Nerve Head and Peripapillary RetinaBeyond direct neural protection, anthocyanins may improve ocular microcirculation, especially around the optic nerve (peripapillary region). In patients with normal‐tension glaucoma (NTG), daily supplementation with a standardized bilberry anthocyanin extract (50 mg of total anthocyanins per day) for six months significantly increased blood flow in the optic nerve head and peripapillary retina, measured by laser Doppler flowmetry (). In that study, intraocular pressure remained unchanged, suggesting the blood flow improvement was due
