Mom was right when she told you to eat your carrots.  It turns out they are a good source of antioxidants needed for your eyes.  However, an occasional crrot stick is not enough to protect your vision and prevent or reduce the severity of age-related eye problems.  Studies show that the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin are important to the health of the macula, the part of the eye essential to central vision.  Your body cannot manufacture either of these antioxidants, and therefore, they need to be supplemented.  The more lutein you have in the macula, the lower the risk of age-related macular degeneration – the leading cause of blindness in older adults.