Anyone who’s ever watched the cartoon rabbit Bugs Bunny munching on a carrot likely knows that the orange-colored vegetable is good for your eye health. Carrots are a great source of vitamin A, which is crucial for eye health.
“Without enough vitamin A, your eyes cannot produce enough moisture to keep them properly lubricated,” according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Not getting enough vitamin A can be tragic and fatal. Worldwide, vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable blindness, according to the AAO. Annually, 250,000 to 500,000 children become blind every year because of a lack of sufficient vitamin A.
If you’re severely deficient in vitamin A, you can develop a serious condition called xerophthalmia, says Lisa Jones, a registered dietitian based in Philadelphia. This condition is characterized by abnormal dryness of the cornea and conjunctiva of the eye, with inflammation and ridge formation. “However, research suggests that there is a reduced risk of developing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration if you have a high intake of vitamin A.”
Market fresh green leaf vegetables in an old wooden crate on an old wooden turquoise table. Vegetables include, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, spring greens, bok choy and spinach
CREDIT
A variety of foods besides carrots are good for your eyes.
While carrots and vitamin A are widely recognized as great for eye health, there are other important foods and nutrients that can help keep your eyes healthy and prevent vision problems, Jones says.
“For example, fatty acids are essential for maintaining the health of the cell membranes that surround the eye,” she says. “These membranes help to protect the eye from damage and keep it properly lubricated. In addition, antioxidants are important for preventing age-related vision problems.”
Antioxidants are natural or man-made substances that can help shield the body from cell damage caused by free radicals, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Such cell damage is associated with a raft of chronic diseases and health problems, including arthritis, cancer and vision loss. Certain fruits, like blueberries, are rich in antioxidant
