Myths vs. Facts
ABOUT ADULT EYES
- Myth: Using a computer or video display terminal (VDT) is harmful to your eyes.
- FACT: Constant use of a computer or video display terminal can cause eyestrain and fatigue, but they are not harmful to your eyes.
- Myth: Using your eyes too much will ‘wear them out.’
- FACT: You can use your eyes as much as you wish because they will not wear out. Your vision may change as a function of age or eye diseases, but you cannot wear your eyes out by simply using them.
- Myth: There is nothing you can do to prevent vision loss.
- FACT: See your doctor at the very first sign of vision loss or impairment such as blurred vision or flashes of light. If detected early enough and depending on the cause, there are treatments available that may correct, stop, or slow down the loss of vision.
ABOUT CATARACTS
- Myth: A cataract must be ‘ripe’ before it can be removed.
- FACT: The time to remove a cataract is when it hinders your eyesight or interferes with your daily activities. Consult with your ophthalmologist about your particular situation and the latest developments in cataract surgery.
- Myth: Cataracts can be removed with lasers.
- FACT: Cataracts cannot be removed with laser surgery. Cataracts are a clouding of the lens in the eye. In order for vision to be restored, the cloudy lens must be removed through a surgical incision and replaced.
ABOUT CHILDREN’S EYES
- Myth: Sitting too close to the television will harm your eyes.
- FACT: There is no evidence that being right in front of the television will harm your eyes. In fact, children, in particular, may have an easier time focusing up close without eyestrain better than adults. On the other hand, sitting close to the television may be a sign of nearsightedness so check with your doctor if there are other signs or symptoms.
- Myth: Reading in the dark or dim light will weaken your eyesight.
- FACT: Reading in the dark or dim light can certainly make your eyes tired or may even give you a headache but it will not harm your eyes.
- Myth: Children outgrow crossed eyes.
- FACT: No, children do not truly outgrow crossed eyes. This condition, a misalignment of the eyes called strabismus can develop poor vision. The sooner crossed or misaligned eyes are treated, the less likely it is for the child to have permanently impaired vision.
- Myth: If you cross your eyes, they will stay that way.
- FACT: Contrary to this old adage, your eyes will not stay crossed if you cross them.
- Myth: Using a nightlight will make a child nearsighted.
- FACT: There is not enough evidence to support this claim. To the contrary, nightlights in an infant’s room may help them learn to focus and help with eye coordination skills.
ABOUT GLASSES AND CONTACT LENSES
- Myth: Using glasses or contacts will weaken eyesight and make one forever dependent on them.
- FACT: Your eyes will not grow weaker as a result of using corrective lenses such as glasses or contacts. Your lens prescription may change over time because of age or eye diseases, but that is totally unrelated to your glasses or contacts.
- Myth: Wearing poorly-fit glasses will damage your eyes.
- FACT: Poor-fitting glasses in and of themselves will not damage your eyes; it simply means they need adjusting so they can do the job of providing you with good, clear vision.
- Myth: It is okay to swim while wearing soft contact lenses.
- FACT: No, it is not okay to swim while wearing contact lenses. That fact is, serious or potentially blinding eye infections can result from swimming or even using a hot tub while wearing contact lenses.
- Myth: Wearing poorly-fit contact lenses doesn’t matter.
- FACT: Poorly-fitting contact lenses can be harmful to the cornea of the eye. Check with your doctor or contact lens professional to make sure your contacts are exactly what you need. Also, have your eyes checked at least every 18 months by an ophthalmologist if you wear contact lenses.
- Myth: You don’t need to have your eyes checked until you are in your 40s or 50s.
- FACT: This is not true because there are several asymptomatic, yet treatable eye diseases (such as glaucoma), that can begin prior to age 40. The best option is to have regular, comprehensive eye exams every couple years as you enter your adult years.
ABOUT GENETICS
- Myth: Two blue-eyed parents can’t produce a child with brown eyes.
- FACT: Although rare, two blue-eyed parents can produce a child with brown eyes. This has to do with genetics and additional information is available from your doctor.
- Myth: Only males can be color blind.
- FACT: Color blindness occurs in both males and females although males are more inclined to be color blind. It is estimated that 8% of the male population has color blindness as opposed to 1% of the female population.
ABOUT MEDICAL ISSUES
- Myth: Eyes can be transplanted.
- FACT: The eye as a whole cannot be transplanted. Each of our eyes is connected to the brain by an optic nerve. This optic nerve is highly complex and is made up of a large bundle of nerve fibers; like a cable wire. Once the optic nerve is severed, it cannot be reconnected so eyes cannot be transplanted.
ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES
- Myth: Safety goggles are more trouble than they are worth.
- FACT: Using safety goggles prevents many eye injuries – injuries that can potentially blind you or damage your eyes. Keep safety goggles handy and use them – better safe than sorry!
- Myth: It is not harmful to watch a welder or look directly at the sun if you squint or look through narrowed eyelids.
- FACT: Even if you squint, ultra-violet light still gets in your eyes and over time can cause damage to the cornea, lens, and retina. Exposure to ultra-violet light has been linked to eye disorders such as macular degeneration, solar retinitis, and corneal dystrophies. You should never look at a welder without the appropriate eye protection because light from this process can damage your eyes and/or foreign matter can get into your eyes. As always, it is best to wear eye protection or sunglasses to protect your eyes as much as possible.
