It is important to know enough to be able to decide what is fact and what is fiction. Listening to myths can take away your focus on what is important. You miss the signals that you should watch out for because you are doing something that really does not matter. Here are a few myths for you and what you should do.
- Reading fine print for too long will damage your eyes
Not true. You will experience eye strain, yes. But this will disappear after resting. There is no evidence to suggest permanent damage from reading fine print. - Reading in dim light will damage your eyes
As above, it will cause eye strain. Rest for a while and you will be fine. - Watching television, or using computers, will damage your eyes
Let us separate this myth into two statements. The first is that watching TV, using computers, or mobile phones, for too long, can cause eye strain, like the cases above. But, this is not harmful and with some rest, you will be fit again. The second statement, however, is trickier. There is research pointing to the harmful effects of blue light which is emitted from LED-screens. This would suggest that the biological processes in the body are affected. Blue light may affect your circadian cycles by “keeping you awake”, and lack of sleep may, in turn, suppress the immune system. There is still research ongoing in this area. Note that many lenses nowadays have treatments for blue light. - Eating carrots will improve your vision
Carrots contain vitamin A, which is essential for your eyesight. However, the amount needed is so small so you should get enough from a healthy and nutritious diet. In fact, overdosing vitamin A might be harmful to your body. - An eye examination is only necessary if you have problems
Not true. You might experience accurate vision but you have no idea of what is going on in your eyes. Preventive maintenance will keep your eyesight working much longer. An eye exam every year will show possible causes for eyesight deterioration and you will be able to take preventive action sooner. Typically, a good visual exam will also include a binocular vision evaluation, an essential part of a good visual performance.
These are just a few of the most common myths about your eyesight. There are many more myths out there. If you want to maintain your vision you have to sort out facts from fiction. A very good way of doing this is to visit your optician regularly. They can tell you everything you need to know.
