You’re young and engrossed in a television show. As the plot thickens, you slowly move closer and closer to the screen. Suddenly, your mom’s voice rises above the TV and reminds you,
“Scoot back! Don’t sit too close to the TV; it will ruin your eyes!”
This is a myth. And it turns out it isn’t the only myth we believe about our eyes. Whether it be from old wives’ tales or medical misunderstandings, quite a few false ideas about eye health live on in our society.
Some misconceptions make us laugh; others can lead to unnecessary worry, poor eye care habits, or not seeking proper treatment. In this article, we’ll debunk 15 of the most common eye myths and reveal the truth about maintaining good vision.
Myth 1: Sitting Too Close to the TV Will Damage Your Eyes
Many eye myths are based on a grain of truth. This first myth is one of them.
While close-range screen use won’t cause us to go blind or permanently deteriorate our vision, it can cause eye fatigue. Watching any screen too closely can lead to temporary eye issues such as burning and itching, double vision, sensitivity to light, or difficulty focusing.
Prevent Eye Strain
While it is a myth that sitting too close to the TV will damage your eyes, staying back a healthy distance is still a good idea. It will be more comfortable for your eyes and prevent digital eye strain.
Whenever you are using a screen, exercise the 20-20-20 rule. Take a break every 20 minutes to stare 20 feet in front of you for at least 20 seconds. This will give your eyes a break and prevent the adverse side effects of eye strain.
Myth 2: If You Cross Your Eyes, They’ll Stay That Way
This is another common myth told to children, but it’s untrue. Crossing your eyes doesn’t cause permanent misalignment. Most cases of crossed eyes are caused by something beyond our control.
Causes of Strabismus
The medical term for crossed eyes is strabismus. Most cases of strabismus are in children who have developmental or muscle issues in the eye.
Genetics, injuries, or neurological conditions can also cause strabismus. No matter the cause, it is usually curable.
Strabismus Treatment
An eye doctor can treat strabismus with various physical and medical means. Wearing a patch over the strong eye to allow the weaker eye to gain strength is a standard corrective course in children. Eyeglasses are usually used in conjunction with this method.
Other treatment options include surgery, botox injections, eye drops, or ointments. The cause of the crossed eyes will dictate the course of treatment.
Myth 3: Eating Carrots Will Give You Super Vision
The last eye myth we often tell children is that eating carrots will make their vision excellent. Sometimes, people are even told carrots will help them see better than they usually do in the dark.
Carrots contain vitamin A, which is essential for good eye health, but they won’t drastically improve your vision if you are not deficient. A balanced diet with nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C is also necessary for optimal eye function.
Chances are, if you eat carrots and have good vision, it is just a coincidence—or an indicator of an overall healthy lifestyle.
Myth 4: Wearing Glasses Makes Your Eyes Weaker
Some people believe that once you start wearing glasses, your eyes become dependent on them. That isn’t true. Glasses simply correct vision; they don’t make your eyesight worse. Your prescription may change over time, but that’s due to natural factors.
Myth 5: Two Brown Eyed Parents Can’t Have a Blue Eyed Baby
When students learn about genetics, they often create a Punnett square to learn more about recessive and dominant genes. It is common for a teacher to have students create squares to figure out the chances a kid has of having each possible eye color.
The problem is that there isn’t one gene for eye color expression. While it isn’t very common for parents with brown eyes to have a child with blue eyes, it is far from impossible. Multiple factors influence eye color, so sometimes, the right combination of genes will lead to a light-eyed baby from dark-eyed parents.
Myth 6: Reading in Dim Light Ruins Your Eyes
Many people believe that reading in low light will damage your eyesight. While it can cause temporary eye strain and discomfort, it does not lead to permanent damage. Your eyes will adjust to the lighting, but reading in well-lit conditions is best to reduce strain.
Myth 7: Only Older People Get Cataracts
Cataracts are more likely in older individuals but can develop at any age. Babies can be born with congenital cataracts, and younger people can develop them due to injury or medical conditions.
Causes of Cataracts
Cataracts are caused by proteins breaking down in the lens of the eye. This often happens naturally over time, which is why age is one of the most common causes of cataracts.
Other illnesses that are also more common in older individuals can cause cataracts. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common. The combination of either of these diseases with advanced age make cataracts even more likely.
Lifestyle choices are another contributor to cataracts. UV damage and smoking are non-age related causes of cataracts.
Lastly, medication can cause cataracts. Individuals who undergo radiation or take certain steroids can develop cataracts as a result.
Treatment of Cataracts
Small cataracts can be ignored and invasive treatment might not be necessary. Brighter lights, magnify glasses, or a stronger prescription can all help counter-act a cataract’s cloudy vision.
For larger cataracts surgery is often the best course of action.
Myth 8: Rubbing Your Eyes is Harmless
Rubbing your eyes can be very satisfying, but the habit can negatively impact your eye health.
Frequent eye rubbing can cause infections, increase eye pressure, and lead to corneal damage. It can also lead to the cornea thinning over time.
If your eyes itch, try using lubricating eye drops instead.
Myth 9: Contact Lenses Can Get Lost Behind Your Eye
It’s impossible for a contact lens to get lost behind your eye. A membrane called the conjunctiva prevents objects from migrating behind your eyes. If a lens moves out of place, it is usually under the eyelid.
Myth 10: You Don’t Need Sunglasses on Cloudy Days
UV rays can penetrate even if the sun is hidden behind clouds. Wearing sunglasses is important on overcast days in order to protect your eyes. Exposure to UV rays increases the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration over time.
Myth 11: Eye Exercises Can Eliminate the Need for Glasses
Eye exercises have their place in the world of optometry, but it isn’t to improve refractive errors. They can help correct issues related to your eye muscles, such as lazy eyes and strabismus though. Eye exercises can also help reduce strain and improve focus flexibility.
Glasses, contacts, or corrective surgery are the only ways to fully correct vision. Eye exercises will not improve your visual acuity.
Myth 12: All Eye Floaters are a Sign of a Serious Problem
Many people notice floaters in their vision, especially as they age. While most floaters are harmless, a sudden increase in floaters or flashes of light could indicate a retinal detachment. This requires immediate medical attention.
It is always a good idea to have your eyes checked out if you are worried about floaters or other vision abnormalities. Even if you think they might not be a big deal.
Myth 13: Colorblind People Only See Black and White
Most colorblind people can see colors. Monochromacy, or only seeing in black and white, is very rare. Colorblind individuals can see in color, but have a hard time differentiating between specific colors.
Causes and Prevention of Colorblindness
Colorblindness is usually caused by misshapped or missing anatomy in the eye. Genetic mutations cause these abnormalities and are more common in men because they are X-linked traits. Since most cases result from genetics, it is usually not a preventable disease.
Some cases of colorblindness are caused by injuries or infections though. In these situations you can wear protective eyewear or see a doctor early if you have an infection or injury to solve the problem before serious consequences follow.
Myth 14: If Your Parents Have Good Vision, You Will Too
Genetics play a role in eye health, but environmental factors and lifestyle choices also heavily impact vision. Screen time, diet, wearing protective eyewear, and UV exposure can all positively or negatively impact your vision.
Your parents’ genetics can give you a leg up, but you can also diminish that with poor eyehealth choices.
Myth 15: You Don’t Need Routine Eye Exams if You Don’t Wear Glasses
Comprehensive eye exams cover so much more than poor vision. An eye doctor will check for early onset of eye diseases, the health of your eyes, proper development (in children), refractive errors, and get an idea of your overall physical health.
Your eyes are indicators for health in all areas of your body. Some illnesses can be detected earlier than normal from an eye exam.
If you have no eye conditions or other eye health risk factors you can schedule an exam every other year until you are 65. The appointment will be quick and give you peace of mind.
You can also talk to your eye doctor about any and all eye myths you have heard. They will help you clear up any misconceptions. If it has been a while, schedule an eye exam today.