The added preservatives in ramen can cause eye issues when consumed frequently. According to Healthline, tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is added to ramen noodles for a long shelf life; when consumed in small doses, this shouldn’t cause you any significant harm.
But when you eat ramen regularly, TBHQ can cause neurotoxic effects like vision disturbances, per Pub Chem. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration limits the use of TBHQ to 0.02%, which you can easily go over when having several bowls of ramen. Further, 2022 research in Toxicology Reports reveals that TBHQ at higher quantities can cause “cytotoxic, genotoxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic effects.”
With that said, you can still enjoy ramen and minimize your risk of vision disturbances by using broth rather than the included flavor packet for the soup. It’s also beneficial to add a variety of vegetables to make your ramen more nutritious. “Anything from mushrooms to carrots to boy choy or cabbage can instantly add flavor, volume and nutrition to your bowl,” suggests Cara Harbstreet, M.S., RD, LD (per EatingWell).