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I've heard that carrots help improve eyesight, but the sources are pretty unreliable (TV shows, mostly). Are there any studies that prove (or show good evidence) that carrots improve eyesight? Or is this just a myth?

michaelpri
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    Shouldn't this go to http://skeptics.stackexchange.com? – Uwe Keim Apr 01 '15 at 05:59
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    @UweKeim: I think it would be fair to put this question on either site. My personal preference is that this sort of question should definitely stay on Health. –  Apr 01 '15 at 11:46
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    Also http://skeptics.stackexchange.com/q/2574/4098 – Pacerier Oct 31 '15 at 16:25

2 Answers2

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This is debunked with little reference on Snopes. It is claimed there that the origin of the myth was deliberate misinformation to hide the use of a game-changing technology used by the RAF to shoot down German planes. This claim regarding the propaganda origin is sourced a bit better at the Wikipedia article on one of the officers.

The grain-of-truth (which probably helps perpetuate the myth) is mentioned in the Snopes article as well and partially backed up at the (archived) CDC article on carrots that they link to:

Beta-carotene, which is found in the vegetable, may help reduce the risk of cataract and macular degeneration. However, it needs be pointed out that studies which have posited this link used doses of Vitamin A or beta-carotene that were higher than what is found in the standard diet. It would be quite difficult to eat the requisite number of carrots to match this level of intake. Also, among those who suffer a Vitamin A deficiency, nyctanopia (also known as nyctalopia or night blindness; the inability to see well in poor light) can be at least somewhat helped by adding carrots to the sufferer's diet.

msouth
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    This answer could be improved with a direct reference to the CDC reference (in case Snopes goes down or changes, as unlikely as that seems) – Zaralynda Apr 04 '15 at 11:41
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    Thanks @Zaralynda, I just edited to make the change you suggested. – msouth Apr 08 '15 at 16:18
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This page on WebMd has an interesting section entitled "Myths About Your Eyes and Vision."

The relevant portion:

Eating Carrots Will Improve Your Vision

Fact: Carrots are high in vitamin A, a nutrient essential for good vision. Eating carrots will provide you with the small amount of vitamin A needed for good vision, but vitamin A isn't limited to rabbit food; it can also be found in milk, cheese, egg yolk, and liver.

While the explanation is not as in-depth as the CDC article cited by @msouth, it appears to be a decent corroboration.

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Sue Saddest Farewell TGO GL
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    Sue - you might be interested in this meta question. :-) – anongoodnurse Jul 09 '15 at 06:18
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    @anongoodnurse. I've read that discussion a number of times, but can't tell if the consensus was that WebMd should not be trusted as a reliable source. It's a great discussion, so any misunderstanding is mine, but it would be helpful for me to know if that's what's implied by this comment. Thanks :) – Sue Saddest Farewell TGO GL Jul 13 '15 at 19:49
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    Sue, Personally I don't like WebMD. It's not on the list, so I think that might be a consensus. I would also caution against Livestrong.com (that seems to be a popular site!) If you have a question, the odds are someone else does about the same thing, too, so questions are always welcome! :-) – anongoodnurse Jul 13 '15 at 20:16
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    That's why I asked it here, rather than in chat, so thanks for your help and understanding! – Sue Saddest Farewell TGO GL Jul 13 '15 at 20:59
  • The problem here is that people confuse "good vision" with "curing eye strain". For anyone visiting here, remember that carrots do not help cure eye strain. Proper sleep and rest does. – John David May 18 '21 at 07:57