We’ve heard for years that eating carrots can help maintain eye health thanks to the vegetable’s richness in beta carotene.

Bugs Bunny wasn’t incorrect.

“But the surprise one is pistachios,” says Sheah Rarback, a registered dietician with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Perhaps the rabbit should have munched on the little green nuts, too, to keep one step ahead of the hapless hunter in the beloved cartoon series.

Credit two substances for eye health, Rarback says: lutein and zeaxanthin. Foods that are high in these plant molecules, which the retina at the back of the eye uses for clear vision, can help you munch your way to better eye health.

Some of the best sources for lutein and zeaxanthin, aside from pistachios, include leafy green vegetables like spinach, collards, mustard greens, chard, kale, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Eggs, particularly egg yolk, are another key source of these substances, as is oily fish high in omega-3 fats like salmon, fresh tuna and sardines.

Also, nuts and seeds are rich in vitamin E, which can help protect eye cells from UV damage and can prevent cataracts. Fruits high in vitamin C also reduce the risk of eye disease.

Dark berries like blueberries and blackberries once were consumed by pilots during World War II because the combat men believed these fruits, which can strengthen the capillaries that feed blood and nutrients to the eyes, sharpened night vision.

Though there is yet no cure for macular degeneration, “these supplements slow down the progression of wet macular degeneration,” Rarback said, citing a 2001 US National Eye Institute Age-Related Eye Disease study (AREDS).

The message?

“There’s no downside to eating green vegetables so eat as much as you can,” Rarback said. “Eating these greens that are high in lutein and zeaxanthin, you can’t go wrong. You’re helping your eyes and everything else.”

And don’t forget the lowly pistachio, not so lowly anymore.