Life Extension Magazine®

Woman uses maqui berries to help with eye discomfort

Relief for Dry Eyes

Left untreated, dry eye syndrome may cause permanent eye damage in severe cases. An extract from maqui berries produced a 72% improvement in dry eye symptoms after 60 days.

Scientifically reviewed by: Gary Gonzalez, MD, in November 2023. Written by: Laurie Mathena.

Dry eye syndrome is an increasingly common condition that causes stinging, itching, and light sensitivity.^1,2

Left untreated, chronic dry eyes can eventually cause permanent eye damage in severe cases.³

While moisturizing eye drops provide relief to many, they do not address the long-term risks of dry eyes. Frequent use is needed to get satisfactory relief.

In addition, it is impossible to replicate the complex structure of real tears.

Scientists have found a way to boost the body's own production of natural tears.

An extract from maqui berries, a fruit native to Chile and Argentina, has been shown to increase natural tear production when taken orally.^4,5

Studies show that maqui berry extract produces:

A 45% increase in the production of tear fluid in both eyes,⁶ and
A 72% improvement in dry eye symptoms after 60 days (about 2 months).⁴

By delivering relief for dry and irritated eyes, maqui berries can help protect against potential long-term eye and vision damage.⁴

Discomfort and Eye Damage

Advancing age, along with the widespread use of smart phones, tablets, computers, and other screens, may lead to increased dry eye symptoms.⁷

Use of these electronic devices can result in a decreased blink rate and a fast rate of tear evaporation.⁷

Tears are essential for lubricating and protecting the cornea, the front central surface of the eye. They protect the eye from infection, wash away foreign matter, and deliver critical nutrients to its surface.⁸

People suffering from dry eye syndrome produce either too few tears or tears that are of poor quality.²

As a result, the cornea can become damaged (ulcerated or scarred), and vision can become impaired.⁹

Maqui berry extract does what eye drops cannot: They boost the body's own production of natural tears.^4,5

How Maqui Berry Works

Maqui berries contain bioactive pigments called delphinidins. Researchers found in preclinical studies that these compounds:⁵

Protect eye structures, including the tear-producing lacrimal gland, by reducing levels of free radicals,⁵
Inhibit damage from light exposure to the eye's delicate cells and tissues,¹⁰ and
Help restore the production of high-quality tears.⁵

In these ways, delphinidins can reduce damage to the glands that produce tears and help protect the cells of our eyes critical for vision.

Impressive Results

In a pilot clinical study, 13 volunteers with moderate eye dryness took either 30 mg or 60 mg of maqui berry extract daily.

Eye dryness was tested by Schirmer’s test which evaluates how much tear fluid is produced by the tear glands and if that amount is sufficient.⁴

After 30 days, both dosage groups had about a 50% improvement in tear production.
After 60 days, the 30 mg group's tear production declined to a 26% improvement, while the 60 mg group continued to have about a 45% improvement in tear production.

Participants also completed Dry-Eye Related Quality-of-Life Score test to assess symptoms and their impact on daily life. A lower score reflects fewer problems and improved quality of life.

The 60 mg group had a 72% improvement in dry eye symptoms after 2 months, and
A substantially improved result on the Dry Eye-Related Quality-of-Life Score test, dropping from a 40 down to an astoundingly low 11.

Controlled Clinical Trials

Scientists next moved on to the gold standard of human studies, a randomized, controlled trial.⁶

They enlisted 74 healthy participants (aged 30 to 60) who had moderate eye dryness and eye fatigue and were exposed to video display screens for at least four hours daily.

Half the volunteers took 60 mg of maqui berry extract daily, while the other half took a placebo.

Both groups started with the same degree of eye dryness.

After four weeks, the maqui group had:

A 45% increase in the production of tear fluid in both eyes,
Substantially improved values for ocular symptoms (such as grittiness or dry eyes), and
Significant improvements in eye fatigue as well as stiff shoulders, which often can occur with eye strain.

This study confirmed that maqui berry extract delivers serious relief to those who suffer from dry eyes and related eye fatigue.

In a similar trial of 20 patients with complaints of dry eyes, participants were randomized to receive maqui-berry extract or a placebo, for 2 months. Improved symptoms of dry eye and reduction in inflammatory markers of eye were seen in the maqui group as compared to placebo.¹¹

By improving tear production, maqui berry may also help protect the eye from long-term damage.

Summary

Dry eye syndrome causes discomfort, reduces quality of life, and can damage eye tissue.

A sufficient amount of high-quality natural tears is essential for protecting the eye from infection and delivering critical nutrients.

An oral extract of the maqui berry helps the body produce more of its own tears. It has been shown to relieve symptoms of dry eyes, including eye discomfort and fatigue, and to boost quality of life.

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension Wellness Specialist at 1-866-864-3027.

References

Dana R, Meunier J, Markowitz JT, et al. Patient-Reported Burden of Dry Eye Disease in the United States: Results of an Online Cross-Sectional Survey. Am J Ophthalmol.2020Aug;216:7-17.
Available at: https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/dry-eye . Accessed December 10, 2021.
Verjee MA, Brissette AR, Starr CE. Dry Eye Disease: Early Recognition with Guidance on Management and Treatment for Primary Care Family Physicians. Ophthalmol Ther.2020Dec;9(4):877-88.
Hitoe S, Tanaka J, Shimoda H. MaquiBright standardized maqui berry extract significantly increases tear fluid production and ameliorates dry eye-related symptoms in a clinical pilot trial. Panminerva Med. 2014Sep;56(3 Suppl 1):1-6.
Nakamura S, Tanaka J, Imada T, et al. Delphinidin 3,5-O-diglucoside, a constituent of the maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis) anthocyanin, restores tear secretion in a rat dry eye model. Journal of Functional Foods. 20149//;10:346-54.
Yamashita SI, Suzuki N, Yamamoto K, et al. Effects of MaquiBright((R)) on improving eye dryness and fatigue in humans: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Tradit Complement Med. 2019Jul;9(3):172-8.
Al-Mohtaseb Z, Schachter S, Shen Lee B, et al. The Relationship Between Dry Eye Disease and Digital Screen Use. Clin Ophthalmol.2021;15:3811-20.
Tanaka J, Kadekaru T, Ogawa K, et al. Maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis) and the constituent delphinidin glycoside inhibit photoreceptor cell death induced by visible light. Food Chem.2013Aug 15;139(1-4):129-37.
Kundu G, Shetty R, D'Souza S, et al. Effect of maqui-berry extract in dry eye disease - A clinical and molecular analysis. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2023Apr;71(4):1613-8.