MISLEADING

Carrots contain beta-carotene and lutein, which are antioxidants that benefit eye health and protect against degenerative diseases 1, 2. The body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A, a nutrient necessary for maintaining eyesight 3, 4. However, eating carrots cannot improve visual acuity or provide 20/20 vision for individuals with imperfect sight 5, 6. The notion that carrots result in sharper sight or super night vision is largely a myth originating from British World War II propaganda 9, 10. Vision improvement from carrots only occurs in cases where a person has a pre-existing vitamin A deficiency 12, 13. For the general population, carrots help maintain ocular health rather than enhancing or sharpening vision 7, 8.