Proanthocyanidins is an effective antioxidants and free radical scavenger derived from kinds of plants in nature. It has some advantages that high absorptivity and bioactivity, low toxicity, which contain broad pharmacological functions such as dropping high blood pressure, reducing blood fat, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-aging, anti-fatigue and preventing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In this paper, we summarized its physicochemical properties, pharmacologic action and the ophthalmological studies which mainly in keratopathy, cataract, glaucoma, uveitis, retinopathy, traumatic optic neuropathy and asthenopia. With the deeper research and more unequivocal in the pharmacological mechanism of proanthocyanidins, it should make the most of its values in medicine. And some more economical and effective drugs are expected to be provided for the clinical ophthalmology in the near future.

广东省建设中医药强省科研课题(No.20122030)