Eye strain, dry eyes, blurred vision at the end of the working day are no longer unfamiliar. In that context, carrots, a familiar and cheap root, are assessed by nutrition experts as foods that are clearly beneficial for eye health.
Carrots are especially rich in beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, an essential nutrient for retina and vision in low light conditions. When introduced into the body, beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A, which helps maintain the function of light-receptive cells and reduces the risk of dry eyes in people who have to concentrate for a long time.
Dr. Emily Chew, an ophthalmologist at the US National Eye Institute, said that vitamin A plays an important role in protecting the surface of the eyeball and maintaining a stable tear film. "People working with eyes at high intensity, especially in artificial lighting environments, are at risk of micronutrient deficiencies needed for the eyes if their diet is unbalanced," she emphasized.
Not only vitamin A, carrots also contain lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that have the ability to filter blue light and reduce oxidative stress for the eyes. According to research published in the Journal of Ophthalmology, supplementing with foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin helps slow down eye fatigue and vision loss due to prolonged work in front of the screen.
Dr. Michael Greger, a clinical nutritionist in the US, said that orange vegetables such as carrots, when used regularly, can contribute to long-term eye protection, especially for workers who have to use their eyes more than their strength.
