Eyebright

In the wild, European eyebright grows in meadows, pastures, and grassy places in Bulgaria, Hungary, and the former Yugoslavia. It is also grown commercially throughout Europe. The plant flowers in late summer through autumn, and the entire herb is commonly used in herbal medicine.

Herbalists have used eyebright for years to support eye health, and it is traditionally used for conditions such as pink eye, which may cause redness, itching, and discharge. Traditionally, a compress made from a decoction of eyebright is used to relieve redness, swelling, and visual discomfort due to eye infections. It has also been used for eye fatigue and other visual disturbances. Eyebright is commonly taken internally in tea or capsule form and is often used alongside topical applications.

Eyebright may contain several active chemicals; however, they are not presently well understood. Some herbal texts suggest that the astringent actions of eyebright may reduce eye irritation, while others suggest it may also have antibacterial activity topically.