Top 10 Eye Myths
Growing up, almost everyone hears things like, "eat your carrots, they'll make your eyesight better" or "don't sit so close to the television or you'll go blind". Some are even as outlandish as "if you sneeze with your eyes open, they'll stay that way forever". So how can you separate fact from fiction? You could always follow the old sayings just to err on the side of safety, but it's probably better to get the facts. So here are some common eye myths revealed.
1. Myth: Eating carrots will improve your vision.
Fact: Let's clear up the carrot myth once and for all. Carrots are high in beta-carotene, an essential nutrient for your health, but carrots, no matter how great the quantity, will not improve your eyesight.
2. Myth: Sitting too close to the television will ruin your eyesight.
Fact: Actually, sitting too close to the TV may be a sign of poor eyesight. If you have to sit extremely close to see the TV, you may be nearsighted, but there is no scientific link between nearsightedness and close proximity to the TV.
3. Myth: Wearing glasses makes your vision worse.
Fact: Age is the most likely culprit. The use of glasses does not, in fact, worsen your vision.
4. Myth: Reading in the dark damages your eyes.
Fact: Reading in the dark is not the best idea as it does cause your eyes to strain to see the words. This merely causes eye fatigue however, not permanent damage.
5. Myth: Wearing someone else's glasses will destroy your vision.
Fact: There is a nugget of truth in this one. During the moments that you are wearing someone else's glasses with a differing prescription, your vision will not be correct but this is in no way permanent and your vision returns to normal as soon as you remove the glasses.
6. Myth: There's nothing you can do to prevent vision loss.
Fact: There are certain measures that you can take to keep your eyes healthy including a balanced diet, wearing protective eyewear such as sunglasses and goggles, and having regular eye exams.
7. Myth: You don't need to have your eyes examined unless there is a problem.
Fact: Regular eye exams are a preventative measure to keeping your eyes healthy and will enable your doctor to detect any ocular problems that you may not have noticed.
8. Myth: Excessive computer use damages your eyes.
Fact: Using the computer won't actually damage your eyes; however, staring at the screen does cause you to blink less frequently which results in dry eyes. It is a good idea to take regular breaks when working at a computer for extended periods of time.
9. Myth: Only boys are color blind.
Fact: While color blindness is certainly more common among males, it does occur among females as well.
10. Myth: It is okay to stare at the sun as long as you squint or wear dark sunglasses.
Fact: The sun produces ultra-violet light that is very dangerous to your eyes. UV rays can damage your cornea, lens and retina. You should never look directly at a solar eclipse as it can cause blindness.
This should "clear up" some of the confusion in fact and fiction regarding your eyes.
1. Myth: Eating carrots will improve your vision.
Fact: Let's clear up the carrot myth once and for all. Carrots are high in beta-carotene, an essential nutrient for your health, but carrots, no matter how great the quantity, will not improve your eyesight.
2. Myth: Sitting too close to the television will ruin your eyesight.
Fact: Actually, sitting too close to the TV may be a sign of poor eyesight. If you have to sit extremely close to see the TV, you may be nearsighted, but there is no scientific link between nearsightedness and close proximity to the TV.
3. Myth: Wearing glasses makes your vision worse.
Fact: Age is the most likely culprit. The use of glasses does not, in fact, worsen your vision.
4. Myth: Reading in the dark damages your eyes.
Fact: Reading in the dark is not the best idea as it does cause your eyes to strain to see the words. This merely causes eye fatigue however, not permanent damage.
5. Myth: Wearing someone else's glasses will destroy your vision.
Fact: There is a nugget of truth in this one. During the moments that you are wearing someone else's glasses with a differing prescription, your vision will not be correct but this is in no way permanent and your vision returns to normal as soon as you remove the glasses.
6. Myth: There's nothing you can do to prevent vision loss.
Fact: There are certain measures that you can take to keep your eyes healthy including a balanced diet, wearing protective eyewear such as sunglasses and goggles, and having regular eye exams.
7. Myth: You don't need to have your eyes examined unless there is a problem.
Fact: Regular eye exams are a preventative measure to keeping your eyes healthy and will enable your doctor to detect any ocular problems that you may not have noticed.
8. Myth: Excessive computer use damages your eyes.
Fact: Using the computer won't actually damage your eyes; however, staring at the screen does cause you to blink less frequently which results in dry eyes. It is a good idea to take regular breaks when working at a computer for extended periods of time.
9. Myth: Only boys are color blind.
Fact: While color blindness is certainly more common among males, it does occur among females as well.
10. Myth: It is okay to stare at the sun as long as you squint or wear dark sunglasses.
Fact: The sun produces ultra-violet light that is very dangerous to your eyes. UV rays can damage your cornea, lens and retina. You should never look directly at a solar eclipse as it can cause blindness.
This should "clear up" some of the confusion in fact and fiction regarding your eyes.
