Eat More Carrots…See Better?

Mothers have chided children with mantras such as, “Wear your hat so you don’t catch a cold!” or, “You have to wait an hour after you eat to go swimming,” for generations.

But, we now know that colds come from germs, not a cold head. And, swimming after you eat? Unless you are Michael Phelps that doesn’t really matter.

Well, what about eating carrots? That leads to better vision, right?

Well, not necessarily. Mom may have gotten that one wrong too.

Would you believe that the reason why carrots have (wrongly) gotten a reputation for helping your eyesight was actually part of British propaganda during World War Two?

A British meteorologist named Robert Watson-Watt, invented the first radars. According to reports, to keep the mystery of new radar system (which allowed the British to anticipate and prevent the German airplane attacks), Watts started widely spreading a story that the British had just improved their vision (and thus their ability to see planes coming and ward off attacks) because they ate a lot of carrots.

Simultaneously, a British fighter pilot named Captain John “Cat’s Eyes” Cunningham was also perpetuating the rumor. He became famous for his night shooting accuracy in the sky and was the highest-scoring night fighter of that war. He took down a total of 20 German bombers during the war and 19 of these he was able to shoot down at night.

When people marveled at how he could have such accuracy and commit such amazing feats in air to air combat, he is rumored to have told people that eating carrots helped him see better.

The rumors caught on apparently. Parents all over the world have been telling their children to eat their carrots, in hopes of having improved eyesight, for decades since.

So, can increased carrot consumption do anything to improve your vision, day or night?

The short answer is not really.

Carrots are high in Vitamin A which is good for the eyes to function properly. And, it is true, we all do need Vitamin A for various body functions including eye sight. But, for most of us the cause of our vision issues is not a lack of Vitamin A. And, truthfully, carrots don’t hold any magical amount or dosage of the vitamin either — it can also be found in eggs, sweet potatoes, and broccoli. If you are having trouble with your vision, find your local America’s Best optometrist and schedule an appointment today!