The Most Common Eye Care Myths Explained

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When it comes to eyes and vision, it is vital to separate myths from truths because this knowledge is the first step to keeping our vision strong for a lifetime. After all, our eyesight is precious to our own lives. Unfortunately, how we try to maintain our vision at normal levels is sometimes not what we believe. Several myths surround the protection and care of our eyes, which, if nothing else, can create a great deal of confusion about what is right and necessary in an action of our eye care and vision.

Myth 1: Carrots improve eyesight

The truth: Carrots are rich in beta-carotene (carotene), a nutrient that is converted in the body to vitamin A which is vital for good eyesight. However, the body needs a relatively small amount of vitamin A for vision and can get it from many sources, such as dark green leafy vegetables, dairy, and fish. In addition, vitamin A helps maintain good eyesight, but it does not improve or prevent refractive errors (e.g. myopia, astigmatism, etc.). Finally, the absorption of beta-carotene and vitamin A is better when the foods that contain them are consumed with a bit of fat (e.g. carrots with a little olive oil).

Myth 2: You won’t damage your eyes by looking straight to the sun for a while

The truth: Even for a few minutes of looking at the sun without wearing the proper eye protection, there is a risk that the (invisible) radiation will cause permanent damage to the retina at the back of the eye. Even indirect exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays (e.g. when reflected from smooth surfaces such as asphalt or sand) is not safe. On the contrary, it can have serious consequences, such as macular degeneration, solar retinitis, cataracts, flap, corneal dystrophies, etc.

Myth 3: Whoever wears the wrong glasses hurts their eyes

The truth: Using old corrective glasses or glasses that have been created for other people can make the eyes tired and cause them pain or blurred vision, but it does not harm the eyes. This is why the symptoms mentioned above disappear when the sufferer stops wearing the wrong glasses. An exception to this is a small number of children with vision problems (e.g. amblyopia) that become permanent if not treated in time and correctly.

Myth 4: An eye exam is not necessary if one does not have a vision problem

The truth: This is a huge mistake because many eye diseases (e.g. glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy) are in their early stages "silent"; they do not cause symptoms. Therefore, if regular eye examinations are not performed, these diseases will not be noticed until they severely affect vision.

For this reason, for those who do not have a chronic vision or health problems, a preventive eye examination is recommended every 5-10 years at the ages of 20 to 39 years, every 2-4 years at the ages of 40-54 years, every 1-3 years at 55-64 years and every 1-2 years after 65. However, people who wear glasses or contact lenses, have a family history of eye disease or suffer from diagnosed health problems (e.g. diabetes) that endanger eye health should be examined more often (usually once a year, especially after 40).

So everyone understands that regular monitoring of our vision, whether we have a symptom or not, is essential to prevent and treat various visual crises. Your regular visit to a professional ophthalmologist, who can offer you valuable help in resolving and dealing with these problems, is the most appropriate way to prevent any crisis. So your visit to an ophthalmology clinic such as the Aris Vision Correction will be crucial in eliminating and containing any of your eye problems.

What eyecare myths are you familiar with?