Carrots really do help with vision

September 8, 2010

What mom says is true - nutrients found in carrots, among other healthy foods, can help one maintain good eye health, according to the Toronto Sun. Beta Carotene, which is found in the orange vegetable, is converted into vitamin A, which can prevent night blindness.

According to the news outlet, a 2001 study on Age-Related eye disease first unveiled the truth behind the belief that carrots help improve eyesight. A new study examines whether other nutrients, such as lutein, fish oil and zeaxanthin, also have an impact on eyesight.

"What attacks the eye from the outside is the light, but what protects it is what's inside - in the inter-ocular fluid and even in the makeup of the cornea, all of which are affected by what's in your diet," Gary Leon, vice president of scientific and technical affairs at Jamieson Laboratories, told the news source.

Antioxidants, which are found in many foods, may be able to prevent some common age-related eye problems, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, which the news source reports are the leading causes of blindness in the U.S.

In addition to eating well, the American Optometric Association urges adults to visit their eye doctor at least once every two years.