Black Currant Fights Myopia

TOKYOAdministration of black currant extract (BCE) may prevent enlargement of globe component dimensions associated with myopia development, according to a new study (Ophthalmic Res. 2010;44:242-250. DOI: 10.1159/000313559). Researchers from Meiji Seika Kaisha Ltd. aimed to evaluate the effects of oral BCE on the enlargement of globe component dimensions in a negative lens-induced chick myopia model. Negative lenses were worn on the right eyes of 8-day-old chicks, while the left eyes acted as controls. The birds received BCE once daily for three days, and BC anthocyanins intravenously once daily for three days.

At the end of the intervention, the researchers found black currant extract significantly inhibited enlargement of vitreous-chamber depth, axial and ocular lengths in a dose-dependent manner; intravenous BC anthocyanins also inhibited elongation of vitreous-chamber depth and axial length.