Sight worries? Try looking beyond carrots

Carrots may not really help you see in the dark, but brightly coloured yellow and green vegetables do have similar sight-enhancing properties, a study published yesterday says.

According to the Journal of Ophthalmology, sweetcorn, broccoli, peas and squash contain the compounds lutein and zeaxanthin, which offer protection against damage to eyesight in later life. The compounds are carotenoids - carrots contain beta-carotene - the substances that give fruit and vegetables, in addition to egg yolk, their colour.