Our bodies have five senses, sight, touch, taste, smell, and hearing – the eyes give us sight, letting us see and experience the world around us. Yet, there have been many myths and misconceptions surrounding eye care. These can lead to confusion and even potentially harmful practices. Discerning the facts from fiction is fundamental to better eye health and care.
We often take our eyes for granted and do not feel the need to care for them. And this pervasive view is dangerous as our eyes are incredibly vital and complex. For those wishing to have a better understanding of how to take care of one’s eyes, or those currently studying an online accelerated BSN program with an interest in moving into optometry, let’s dive in and shed the truth on the six most frequent myths and misconceptions regarding eye health.
Myth 1: Eyeglasses will weaken your vision
There has been an age-old view that wearing prescription lenses will make one’s eyesight worse. No one knows exactly how this view came about, but we can resolutely say it is a myth.
Corrective lenses work by adjusting the focus points of incoming light to align with your retina, which then rectifies blurry vision caused either by myopia (better vision up close), hyperopia (better vision further away), or other eye conditions like astigmatism (blurry at all distances). When you take your spectacles off your surroundings naturally become blurrier than you had initially thought. This is the brain adapting to the glasses and adjusting the lenses within your eyes, causing these differences to become more pronounced.
Usually, it is only by getting the wrong prescription that one’s eyes may be strained, causing achiness, blurriness, or headaches. But even then it would not lead to any actual damage or weakening of the eye, as they should go away when those glasses are removed. The persistence of this myth has led many Americans to avoid visiting their optometrist for an eye test or delaying their treatments, so dispelling this myth is all too important.
Myth 2: Reading under poor lighting will damage eyesight
Humans have used gaslights, candlelights, or even just moonlight, to read and do other work for centuries, and the rates of vision problems back then were no more than they are today. While reading under dim light may cause eye strain or tiredness, these effects are temporary and do not cause vision problems.
Ultimately, the problem of reading under dim light does not rest with damage to eyesight but rather the discomfort and fatigue it entails, including reading focus decrease, which is still bad for the eyes. Our eyes get overworked in such environments, so it is nevertheless important that reading and work are done under adequate lighting. And if you need reading glasses, you should wear them as much as possible.
Myth 3: You do not need regular checkups if you have 20/20 vision
‘20/20 vision’ has been used loosely to refer to ‘perfect’ vision, but in fact, it is not perfect at all. 20/20 vision only denotes having normal vision – that is you can see what an average individual can see while standing 20 feet away. For example, a person can have 20/15 vision which is actually sharper than average – on an eye chart, they can view a line clearly at 20 feet that the normal person would only see at 15 feet away.
The belief that one only needs to book an eye test if there have been noticeable issues in the eyes or vision is hazardous because it would delay early detection of either an underlying eye or general health issue. ‘20/20 vision’ does not cover peripheral, side, night, or color vision. One can have good vision and still have a condition such as vertical heterophoria, a vertical misalignment in the eyes that causes one to see ‘doubles’. Other conditions such as glaucoma, with the risk of blindness, and macular degeneration, causing gradual vision loss, all slowly and unnoticeably damage the inner parts of the eye over time.
The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends an eye test at least every two years for healthy adults aged between 18-64, and annually for those 65 and older. Vision problems usually do not manifest through noticeable symptoms, so you must receive regular checkups and tests to maintain your eye health, assuring that potential complications and risks are not flying under the radar.
Myth 4: Vision loss cannot be prevented
More than 80% of vision impairments or loss can be prevented by early detection. Even aging is not associated with vision loss, as many age-related vision problems are preventable and treatable today. Cataracts for example is a common age-related vision disorder characterized by the build-up of protein in the eye lens, causing clouded vision that can potentially lead to blindness.
Early detection can dramatically reduce the risk of cataracts from getting worse, including making simple lifestyle changes such as diet, smoking, alcohol use, and sun exposure. And this is precisely why undergoing regular eye checks is so important. While conditions like cataracts cannot be completely cured, early detection by your optometrist can be vital in slowing down, and even preventing, related vision losses.
Myth 5: Sitting too close to screens and spending too much screen time will ruin eyesight
Neither sitting too close to the screen nor spending too much screen time would negatively impact one’s vision. This doesn’t mean doing either is necessarily good, as both can cause eyestrain, headaches, or discomfort. Moreover, sitting too close to a screen may indicate nearsightedness and the need for glasses.
Screens usually emit blue light, but this isn’t enough to harm the retina or any other parts of the eye. It is recommended that your computer screen should be between 16 to 30 inches away; for lowering eye strain, the AOA recommends the 20-20-20 rule; taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes and viewing something 20 feet away.
A study from 2017 suggested that not enough sunlight exposure in children can negatively affect the growth and development of vision, increasing the risks of myopia. In an age where children are constantly glued to their devices, while the screens themselves would not likely affect their vision, they should spend more time outside and receive adequate Vitamin D sunlight exposure to avoid stunting vision development.
Myth 6: Eating carrots is good for the eyes
While carrots are nutrient-rich and great for the body, it’s not the only vegetable that contains Vitamin A. Regardless, while eating Vitamin A-rich foods can maintain good vision, the amount you gain from consuming them will not necessarily improve your vision.
The Way Forward for Healthy Eyes
Getting the right information about eye health is paramount. Make eye health a top priority and ensure that you’re getting regular eye exams even if your vision seems fine. Always wear safety glasses and the correct equipment to avoid eye injuries if you work in a high-risk environment. If you feel something is wrong with your vision, consult your optometrist as soon as possible.
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