The macula is one area of tissue that lines the back of your inner eye, and this tissue aids in providing the vision you use for tasks such as driving and recognizing faces. The cells in the macular tissue of many older adults break down over time, a condition called macular degeneration. Treatment does not typically restore vision, but certain nutrients, such as the vitamin A found in carrots, may help prevent damage.
Symptoms
Macular degeneration may cause slow, progressive changes in your central vision. This may result in a dark spot in your central vision that may expand in size and continue to darken over time. You may require extra light for certain activities, such as reading. If the condition advances, you may experience a sudden loss of vision, or you may notice that objects you know have straight lines that appear to bend or curved.
Vitamin A
Carrots contain a significant amount of vitamin A, determined by a study conducted in 2001 by the National Eye Institute. This study, called the Age-Related Eye Disease Study, or AREDS, discovered that a daily dosage of 25,000 international units of vitamin A, along with other nutrients, may help prevent your risks of advanced macular degeneration by around 25 percent.
Carrots
One-half cup of cooked carrots contains more than 13,000 international units of vitamin A, which is less than the AREDS recommendation. One-half cup of carrot juice provides more than 22,000 international units, and a single, large raw carrot offers more than 8,000 international units. You may choose to supplement your dietary intake of carrots with foods rich in vitamin A, which include spinach, kale, cantaloupe or apricots.
Additional Nutrients
The AREDS recommendations also include 500mg of vitamin C each day, as well as 400 international units of vitamin E and 80mg of zinc. Since a high intake of zinc could lead to copper deficiency, the study also recommends 2mg of copper daily.
Considerations
Carrots provide many beneficial nutrients, including the vitamin A that may help prevent macular degeneration. However, carrots alone will not provide protection for your eyes. You and your doctor may determine that a daily supplement containing the AREDS formulation of certain high-dose nutrients may offer the best protection and ensure that you reach the recommended dosages of these nutrients each day.
