Do carrots really improve your eyesight? While optometrists admit that carrots contain large quantities of a beta-carotene which is known to be very good for one's eyes, ingesting large amounts of carrots will not substitute for visual aids.
Beta-carotene is a carotenoid, or orange pigment that changes into vitamin A after it's absorbed in the human body. Vitamin A strengthens the cornea, or surface of the eye, and has been determined to prevent certain eye diseases such as macular degeneration. Vitamin A, a group of antioxidant compounds, protects the cornea to reduce the risk of eye infections as well as other infectious diseases. Vitamin A has also shown to be a successful solution for dry eyes and other eye conditions. A deficiency of this important vitamin (which is be more common in poor and developing countries) often causes night blindness, corneal ulcers and retinal damage which can contribute to total blindness.
Two forms of vitamin A exist, which relate to the nutritional source from which they come. Retinol is vitamin A derived from an animal origin such as beef, chicken liver, or dairy products. Vitamin A that is obtained from produce exists in the form of ''provitamin A'' carotenoids, which are converted to retinol after the nutrients are absorbed. In addition to carrots, carotenoids can be found in colorful produce such as oranges, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale and cantaloupes.
It is proven that vitamin A is beneficial to your eyes as well as your total well being. Although carrots can't correct optical distortion which causes vision impairments, grandma had it right when she said ''eat your carrots.''