Ophthalmologist dispelled the myth about the benefits of blueberries for vision

Blueberry supplements have no significant clinical effect on eye health, despite the popularity of such drugs. Anna Solovey, ophthalmologist at the 3Z clinic, told about this on October 13.

"Blueberry preparations and dietary supplements, which are popular in Russia, have historically been prescribed very widely, including to children. It was more a tribute to tradition and marketing than the result of convincing research," she shared in an interview with Gazeta.Ru».

The doctor explained that the widespread myth about the benefits of blueberries for vision has no scientific confirmation. Despite the widespread use of blueberry supplements, especially in Russia, modern researchers have not found convincing evidence of its effectiveness in improving vision in healthy people or patients without specific retinal problems.

Solovey noted that eye health complexes tested in the framework of the large-scale AREDS2 study (Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2) have the greatest evidence base. This study showed that a combination of antioxidants, zinc, copper, as well as lutein and zeaxanthin reduces the risk of progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by 25% in patients with an intermediate stage of the disease. However, these complexes do not prevent the risk of AMD in healthy people and are not intended for prevention.

The ophthalmologist also stressed that the use of vitamin complexes should be justified only in the presence of confirmed retinal changes, and not as a preventive measure. She also recalled that prescribing drops for dry eyes should be done by a doctor based on diagnostic results, since dry eye syndrome can be just one of the symptoms of more serious diseases.

On September 24, Igor Aznauryan, a pediatric ophthalmologist, MD, professor, founder and head of the Association of Children's Eye Clinics "Clear Gaze", spoke about the signs of visual impairment in a schoolboy. It was clarified that with the beginning of the school year, the visual load on children increases dramatically, which poses a serious threat to vision, which is especially vulnerable at school age.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.