Do Eyebright Drops and Supplements Benefit Health?

Eyebright is a plant long used in traditional remedies for eye complaints. Early research indicates it might help soothe inflamed or irritated eyes, though higher-quality human trials are necessary.

Eyebright is a small-flowered herb, typically bearing white blooms streaked with purple and a yellow spot near the center.

For centuries, it has been part of European folk medicine, mainly employed for minor ocular problems such as redness and irritation (1, 2).

The plant’s Greek-derived name, Euphrasia, means joy, alluding to the relief one might feel if the herb improves eye health (2).

This article summarizes eyebright’s traditional uses, possible benefits, suggested dosages, and important precautions.

What is eyebright?

Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) is a herbaceous plant found across Europe, Asia, and North America. It typically reaches 2–8 inches (5–20 cm) in height and blooms briefly near the end of its growing season (2).

Thriving in poor soils, eyebright is partially parasitic and draws some moisture and nutrients from neighboring plants’ roots.

The leaves, stems, and flowers are used in traditional preparations such as teas and supplements.

Eyebright is also employed in homeopathy, a practice that uses highly diluted substances for therapeutic purposes (2).

Summary: Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) is a herb whose stems, leaves, and flowers are prepared as teas and supplements.

Rich in plant compounds

Eyebright is a source of several plant compounds, notably the flavonoids luteolin and quercetin (2).

Luteolin and quercetin can suppress mast cells, immune cells that release histamine — a molecule responsible for allergy symptoms such as watery eyes and runny nose (3).

This antihistamine-like activity might explain eyebright’s traditional use for seasonal allergies, though its effectiveness for this purpose hasn’t been rigorously tested (2).

Eyebright also supplies iridoid compounds, with aucubin being one of the more researched members of this class (4).

In lab studies, aucubin reduced scarring of heart tissue under damaging conditions such as after a heart attack, where scarring can impair cardiac function (5).

Animal research in mice indicates aucubin may limit heart scarring by decreasing oxidative damage caused by free radicals (6).

Human trials are required to establish whether common eyebright doses deliver enough of these compounds to produce measurable health effects.

Summary: Eyebright contains flavonoids like luteolin and quercetin with antihistamine activity, and iridoids such as aucubin, which may protect against oxidative damage and support heart health.

May relieve eye irritation

The common name eyebright reflects its historical application for eye issues in animals and humans (2, 7, 8).

Eye-related uses are among the few areas where eyebright has some research, though data remain limited.

In one in vitro study, eyebright extracts reduced inflammatory responses in human corneal cells. The cornea is the transparent front layer covering the colored part of the eye (9).

Another laboratory investigation showed that an eye drop mixture of eyebright and chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) protected corneal cells from sun-induced inflammation and damage (10).

In a human trial, 65 adults with inflamed eyes — caused by pollen, wind, dust, infections, or eye strain — used drops containing equal parts eyebright and rose (Rosae aetheroleum) extracts three times daily.

Approximately 81% of participants experienced full relief of redness, swelling, burning, and sticky discharge within 6–14 days, while the remainder showed notable improvement (11).

However, because the preparation combined two herbs and lacked a control group, it’s unclear how much eyewright alone contributed to the effect and whether symptoms might have improved without treatment.

Placebo-controlled human trials of eyebright by itself are necessary to determine its true efficacy for eye irritation, inflammation, and related symptoms.

Importantly, eyebright has not been evaluated for major eye diseases such as macular degeneration, cataracts, or glaucoma.

Summary: Eyebright’s name stems from its traditional ocular uses. Early studies indicate it may ease irritated, inflamed eyes, but stronger human trials are needed to confirm this.

Other possible health benefits

Some preliminary studies point to additional possible benefits of eyebright, but more evidence in humans is required.

Early findings suggest eyebright may:

• Support skin health.In cell studies, eyebright helped reduce sun-related damage by neutralizing free radicals, a process that contributes to wrinkles and raises skin cancer risk (12).
• Lower blood sugar.In diabetic rats given an oral eyebright leaf extract, fasting glucose fell by about 34% within 2 hours, while non-diabetic rats showed no change (2, 13).
• Ease colds and coughs.Traditionally used for inflammation tied to colds, coughs, and sinusitis, eyebright contains natural anti-inflammatory constituents, although this use hasn’t been systematically studied (2).
• Combat harmful bacteria.Lab studies indicate eyebright compounds can inhibit growth of certain bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae, both of which can be implicated in ocular infections (14).
• Protect the liver.Animal and in vitro work suggests aucubin from eyebright may guard the liver against oxidative damage, toxins, and viral injury (15, 16).

Despite encouraging laboratory and animal data, a lack of clinical human research leaves these potential benefits uncertain for people.

Summary: Early lab and animal studies indicate eyebright might protect skin, inhibit certain bacteria, support liver health, and lower blood sugar in diabetic models, but human evidence is insufficient.

Forms and dosages

Eyebright is sold in stores and online as herbal tea, liquid extracts, capsules, homeopathic pellets, and sterile eye drops.

There’s no standardized dosing from clinical trials, but common guidance from product labels and traditional use includes (2):

• Tea: 1–2 teaspoons (2–3 grams) of dried eyebright or 1 tea bag per 1 cup (237 ml) of boiling water. Cover and steep for 5–10 minutes, then strain. The brew can be slightly bitter; sweeten if desired.
• Liquid extract: 1–2 ml, up to three times daily.
• Capsules: 400–470 mg per capsule, taken 2–3 times a day.
• Homeopathic pellets: Common potency is 30c. Typical use is 3–5 pellets dissolved under the tongue daily.
• Eye drops: 1 or more drops per eye as needed, 3–5 times per day.

Effective amounts may vary by individual, product formulation, and the condition being addressed.

Summary: Eyebright is available as tea, extracts, capsules, homeopathic preparations, and eye drops. Packaging recommendations offer general dosing, but clinical studies haven’t established optimal doses.

Precautions

Care is required when using eyebright, especially around the eyes.

Although homemade eyebright rinses have been used for eye strain, such non-sterile preparations are unsafe and can cause eye infections (2).

Sterile eyebright-containing eye drops are available. Nonetheless, if you’ve had eye surgery or wear contact lenses, consult an eye specialist before using these drops.

Exercise caution if you have health conditions or take medications—particularly antidiabetic drugs.

Because animal data indicate eyebright might lower blood glucose, speak with your healthcare provider and closely monitor blood sugar if you combine the herb with diabetes medications to avoid hypoglycemia (2, 13).

Eyebright hasn’t been studied in pregnancy or breastfeeding and should be avoided during these periods (2).

Finally, eyebright is not an established therapy for any medical disorder, so it shouldn’t replace prescribed treatments.

Summary: Avoid homemade topical eye preparations with eyebright because they aren’t sterile. Use caution if you have diabetes, as the herb may lower blood sugar when combined with diabetes medications.

The bottom line

Eyebright is a traditional herb often used for ocular complaints and is available as teas, supplements, and eye drops.

Preliminary research suggests it may help soothe inflamed, irritated eyes, but more robust human studies are required.

Given the limited clinical evidence, don’t substitute eyebright for prescribed treatments, and consult your healthcare provider before combining it with conventional medicines.