The Facts About the Eye Health Benefits of Eating Carrots

Are carrots good for your vision? While eye doctors affirm that the orange root vegetables are made up of large quantities of a vitamin which is known to be very good for your eyes, eating large amounts of carrots will not eliminate your need for corrective eye wear.

Beta-carotene is a carotenoid, or orange pigment that converts into vitamin A once absorbed in the human body. Vitamin A strengthens the cornea, or surface of the eye, and has been shown to prevent a number of eye diseases such as macular degeneration. Vitamin A, a group of antioxidant compounds, protects the surface of the eye to reduce the risk of ocular infections and other infectious illnesses. Vitamin A has also shown to be an effective solution for dry eyes as well as other eye conditions. A lack of this important vitamin (which tends to exist more in underdeveloped countries) is known to cause night blindness, corneal ulcers and retinal damage which can lead to complete blindness.

There are two variations of vitamin A, which relate to the nutritional source from which they come. Vitamin A derived from an animal is called Retinol and can be obtained from foods such as beef, liver, or dairy products. Vitamin A that is obtained from produce exists in the form of ''provitamin A'' carotenoids, which break down to retinol after the nutrients are digested. In addition to carrots, carotenoids can be found in colorful produce such as oranges, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale and cantaloupes.

There is no doubt that through most forms, vitamin A is beneficial to your eyes and your overall well being. Although carrots won't fix corneal refraction which causes vision impairments, grandma was right when she advised ''finish your vegetables.''