Are Carrots Good For Your Eyes?

Carrots are a great source of beta-carotene, which is a precursor for Vitamin A. Vitamin A in turn prevents night blindness and helps maintain a healthy, clear cornea. Sweet potatoes, pumpkins, mangoes and apricots - other bright orange fruits and vegetables - are also rich sources of beta-carotene.

Carrots also contain lutein, which is an antioxidant. Lutein increases pigment density in the macula, the oval-shaped yellow spot near the centre of the retina. This helps protect your retina, and lowers your risk of macular degeneration. Lutein can also be found in spinach, kale and Swiss Chard.

That being said, carrots won't correct your vision - so don't trade your spectacles for carrot sticks just yet. But there is too much of a good thing - if you eat an excessive amount of carrots, your skin will actually turn orange from the excessive beta-carotene that cannot be converted to Vitamin A!