4 Health Benefits of Carrots for Eyes: Preventing Myopia to Cataracts
For a long time, carrots have been known as a powerful vegetable for maintaining eye health. This is because this vegetable is the highest source of vitamin A among all vegetables, namely 852 mcg per 100 grams when raw and 1329 mcg when cooked. So, is the information circulating about the benefits of carrots for the eyes true?
Actually, the benefits of raw carrots as well as cooked ones are numerous. In fact, it is said that this vegetable reduces nearsightedness and can prevent blindness if consumed regularly. True or not?
Therefore, get to know some of the benefits you can get from consuming this vegetable, including facts or just myths surrounding carrots.
1. Maintaining Healthy Eyes and Reducing the Risk of Blindness

Who doesn't want to have healthy eyes? Surely almost everyone wants it. This is because the eyes are one of the five most important senses in life. Therefore, you must take care of them so they remain healthy and function normally.
One way to keep eyes healthy is by eating plenty of foods that contain carotenoids, which the body will convert into vitamin A. Vitamin A allows the opsin protein to form in the "cone cells" and the rhodopsin protein to form in the "rod cells" near the back of the eye.
Opsin will process light in bright conditions, while rhodopsin does the same in dim light. When light hits rhodopsin or opsin, it creates electrical impulses that travel to the brain to be interpreted. This is what helps us see.
Therefore, vitamin A deficiency can lead to blindness. So, since carrots contain vitamin A, the benefits of this vegetable for maintaining eye health and preventing blindness are a fact.
2. Reducing the Risk of Myopia and Nyctalopia

Besides maintaining healthy eyes and preventing blindness, this vegetable is also popular as a vegetable that can cure nearsightedness (myopia) and night blindness (nyctalopia). So, is it true that eating raw carrots for nearsightedness and farsightedness is effective?
It turns out that this vegetable cannot directly cure myopia and nyctalopia. Although its contents are good for vision health, consuming this vegetable alone will not be enough to treat them. If you want to be cured, you can try laser therapy or lens implantation surgery.
However, the information that this vegetable can reduce the risk of myopia and nyctalopia is a fact. In addition, this vegetable is also effective in preventing your vision from worsening.
So, if you do not want your minus or plus prescription to increase, you can consume this vegetable regularly. Whether in raw form, juice, or cooked food.
Interestingly, there is no right time to drink carrot juice for the eyes. You can drink it in the morning, afternoon, or evening. The results will be the same whenever you consume it. As long as you regularly eat this vegetable every day, the risk of myopia and nyctalopia will be reduced.
3. Preventing Cataracts

If you want to know what are the benefits of carrots for the eyes next, it turns out that you can prevent cataracts with this vegetable. This is because the antioxidant, vitamin A, and carotenoid content in this vegetable are effective in preventing cataracts.
In fact, a study says that the global fund of $5.7 billion to restore vision for about 45 million cataract sufferers could be reduced by half. The way to do it is with a healthy diet by consuming colorful fruits and vegetables, including carrots.
Read Also: 5 Foods Good for Keeping Eyes Healthy
However, this vegetable is only effective for prevention, not for treating existing cataracts. If you are already affected by cataracts, you inevitably have to undergo surgery.
4. Reducing the Risk of Glaucoma

Furthermore, this vegetable is also effective in reducing the risk of glaucoma or nerve disease in the eyes. This is proven in studies where the risk of glaucoma decreased by 64% in people who consumed this vegetable more than two servings per week compared to those who consumed less than one serving per week.
Besides consuming it in raw form, juice, or cooked food, you can also consume it in the form of supplements. For example, Sido Muncul Herbal Bilberry Carrot 30 Capsules, which is a supplement for eye health. This product contains Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, and Vitamin C.
Besides maintaining eye health, this supplement containing carrot and bilberry extract is also effective in overcoming eye fatigue. In addition, this Sido supplement can be used as supportive nutrition during the recovery phase of cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye diseases.
Read Also: 6 Health Benefits of Bilberry & Facts
Certainly, you can feel all the benefits of carrots for the eyes when consuming this supplement. You can take it one capsule per day or according to a doctor's prescription. However, avoid consuming this supplement when you are pregnant or breastfeeding.