Ingredient profile
Bilberry Leaf Powder in Zeaxan
Zeaxan lists bilberry leaf powder 6th of 11 ingredients and prints no amount. Bilberry is famous for a World War II story about pilots and night vision, but the most rigorous trials found it does not improve normal night vision. Those trials tested anthocyanoside extracts, not leaf powder, and NCCIH says the leaves may be unsafe in high doses or over long periods.
Written by the Zeaxan editorial teamUpdated
The basics
What is bilberry leaf powder?
Bilberry leaf powder is the dried, ground leaf of Vaccinium myrtillus, a small shrub. In Zeaxan it is the 6th of 11 ingredients, right after lutein.
The label prints "Bilberry Leaf Powder", so this is the leaf, not the berry. That detail matters, because the night-vision research tested a different form of the plant. The brand does not say why bilberry is in the formula.
| Label name | Bilberry Leaf Powder |
|---|---|
| What it is | Vaccinium myrtillus leaf |
| Form | Leaf powder |
| Place in the blend | 6 of 11 (heaviest first) |
| Amount per 2 capsules | Not published (listed 6th) |
| Amount used in research | Night-vision trials tested bilberry anthocyanoside extracts, not leaf powder |
| Strength of evidence | Not supported for night vision |
| Why it is in the formula | The herb behind an old pilot story about night vision |
| Main caution | NCCIH says bilberry leaves may be unsafe in high doses or for long periods. |
The legend
Did WWII pilots really see better at night with bilberry?
Probably not. NCCIH says the story of British pilots eating bilberry jam before night missions may have been a myth or a hoax (NCCIH, bilberry).
The tale has followed bilberry for decades and still shows up on eye supplement labels and ads. A good story is not the same as a trial, though. When researchers tested the idea properly, it did not hold up.
Wartime tales are easy to repeat and hard to check. The FDA lists personal success stories and quick fixes among the warning signs of health fraud (FDA, health fraud). A legend about pilots fits that pattern.
The research
Does bilberry improve night vision?
No, according to the best studies. A review of 30 trials, 12 of them placebo-controlled, found that the four most recent randomized trials were all negative (Canter and Ernst, 2004).
The authors concluded that rigorous evidence does not support the idea that bilberry improves normal night vision. NCCIH reached the same view for healthy people (NCCIH, bilberry).
| Question | Night-vision trials | Zeaxan |
|---|---|---|
| Form of bilberry | Anthocyanoside extracts (Canter and Ernst, 2004) | Leaf powder |
| Amount | Set by each trial | Not published |
| Result for normal night vision | Not supported by rigorous trials | Never tested |
| Main safety note | Not the focus of the night-vision review | Leaves may be unsafe in high doses or long term (NCCIH, bilberry) |
Leaf, not berry
Is bilberry leaf safe to take?
That depends on the dose, which the label does not give, and the leaf carries its own warning. NCCIH says bilberry leaves may be unsafe in high doses or when taken for long periods (NCCIH, bilberry).
The good news is that the dose here is limited. Blend labels list ingredients from heaviest to lightest (21 CFR 101.36), so by our arithmetic the 6th ingredient in a 600 mg blend can weigh at most 100 mg. The real amount is not published and is likely less.
If you plan to take Zeaxan for many months, mention the bilberry leaf to your doctor or pharmacist. Bring the bottle so they can read the full list.
Try Zeaxan for 90 days2 capsules a day · 3 bottles per pack · today's price on the listing
See today's priceWhere it ranks
What helps your eyes more than bilberry?
Eye exams, not smoking and good diabetes care all have far stronger evidence. Bilberry for night vision sits near the bottom.
Regular eye exams
StrongA baseline exam by age 40 and every 1-2 years after 65 catches problems such as glaucoma, which often has no early symptoms. (AAO, 2021) (NEI, glaucoma)
Not smoking
StrongSmokers are about twice as likely to get AMD as nonsmokers. (AAO, 2021)
Yearly dilated exam if you have diabetes
StrongDiabetic eye damage usually has no symptoms early on. (NEI, diabetic eye)
AREDS2 formula, if you already have intermediate AMD
StrongLowered the risk of advanced AMD by about 25% over 5 years in people with intermediate or late AMD. (NEI, AREDS2) (Cochrane, 2023)
20-20-20 screen breaks
Helps comfortEvery 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Eases tired eyes; strain causes no lasting damage. (AAO, eye strain)
Leafy greens and eggs
Food firstFood gives about 1-2 mg of lutein and zeaxanthin a day; no official daily target exists. (Wilson et al., 2021)
Eye vitamins if you do not have AMD
No benefitSupplements cannot prevent AMD, and AREDS showed no benefit without AMD or with early AMD. (NEI, 2020) (Cochrane, 2017)
Bilberry for night vision
Not supportedThe most rigorous trials found no improvement in normal night vision. (Canter and Ernst, 2004) (NCCIH, bilberry)
Zeaxan itself
No trialsNo published trial has tested this blend, and its amounts are not published. (FTC, 2022)
Bar length shows how much published evidence supports each option for keeping your eyes healthy, based on the eye institutes, reviews and studies linked here. A reading aid, not a score from any one source.
Seller claims
What does Zeaxan claim about vision?
The brand's benefit panel says "Vision Performance Support" and "Support Clear and Healthy Sight". It does not mention night vision, and it does not name bilberry as the reason for either claim.
Those lines are the seller's words, and each carries the FDA disclaimer. Nothing in the bilberry research supports sharper or clearer sight. If you have trouble seeing at night, that is a reason for an eye exam, since problems such as cataracts become common with age (NEI, cataracts). See how each claim compares with the evidence on the benefits page.
What to do
Should you take Zeaxan for the bilberry?
Not for night vision. The trials do not support that use, and the leaf in Zeaxan is not the form those trials tested.
If you want Zeaxan for other reasons, the bilberry leaf is a small part of a 600 mg blend. Read the full story in the bilberry night vision myth, and see how all eleven ingredients compare on the ingredients page.
FAQ
Bilberry questions
Does bilberry help with night driving?
No good evidence supports that. A review of placebo-controlled trials found the four most recent randomized trials were all negative for normal night vision (Canter and Ernst, 2004). If glare or dim light makes driving hard, book an eye exam, because cataracts and other common problems can cause it.
Is the bilberry jam pilot story true?
Probably not. NCCIH says the World War II story of British pilots eating bilberry jam to see better at night may have been a myth or a hoax (NCCIH, bilberry). Later controlled trials did not find that bilberry improves normal night vision in healthy people.
Is bilberry leaf the same as bilberry extract?
No. Zeaxan uses bilberry leaf powder, while the night-vision trials tested anthocyanoside extracts (Canter and Ernst, 2004). Even those extracts did not hold up in rigorous trials. NCCIH also notes that bilberry leaves may be unsafe in high doses or when used for long periods (NCCIH, bilberry).
What is the bilberry dose in Zeaxan?
The label does not say. Bilberry leaf powder is the 6th of 11 ingredients in a 600 mg blend, so by our arithmetic it can weigh at most about 100 mg per 2 capsules. The real amount is likely lower, and only the maker knows it.
Is it safe to take bilberry leaf every day?
Ask your doctor if you plan long-term use. NCCIH says bilberry leaves may be unsafe in high doses or over long periods (NCCIH, bilberry). The amount in Zeaxan is small and capped by the 600 mg blend, but it is not published, so a doctor can only judge it roughly.
Can bilberry help tired eyes from screens?
There is no good evidence that it does. Screen strain usually comes from focusing for a long time without blinking. The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds (AAO, eye strain).
Why do eye supplements still use bilberry?
Mostly because of its long history and the pilot legend, not because of strong trials. The Zeaxan label does not explain why bilberry is included. The FTC says health claims need solid human evidence, generally randomized controlled trials (FTC, 2022), which bilberry for night vision does not have.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the bottle label and linked medical sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by an authorized U.S. retailer, not by the manufacturer. We are paid a commission when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about Zeaxan
Bilberry and night vision
The pilot legend, the trials that tested it, and why bilberry leaf in a blend is a different thing again.
Read moreBenefits
Each Zeaxan benefit claim in the seller's words, set next to what research actually shows.
Read moreEye health guide
Exams by age, AMD, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, warning signs and screen strain, in plain language.
Read moreUSA authorized Zeaxan retailer
Ready to try Zeaxan?
The listing sells one 3-pack: 180 capsules, 90 days at 2 a day. Check today's price, delivery and return terms on the listing before you pay, and keep your eye exams.
- eBay Money Back Guarantee
- 30-day returns, as listed
- Free 2-4 day delivery, as listed