Fact or fiction—sometimes it’s hard to tell with all the information out there. That’s why we’ve decided to share the truth behind seven common eye and vision myths you may have heard.
Did your grandmother say sitting too close to the TV would hurt your eyes? Did she then turn around and tell you to eat your carrots at dinner to keep your eyes healthy? If so, keep reading because we have some eye-opening facts for you!
Myth 1: Sitting too close to the TV can damage your eyes.
This myth has been around for decades, but the truth is that sitting close to the TV will not damage your eyes. While sitting too close may cause eyestrain and fatigue, it will not lead to permanent damage to your eyes.
But regularly sitting too close to the TV could mean the person is nearsighted. Therefore, they may need prescription eyeglasses.
Myth 2: Reading in dim light will weaken your eyesight.
While reading in dim light can cause eye strain and make it hard to see, it will not weaken your eyesight permanently. Your eyes may feel tired after reading in dim light, but there are things you can do to help reduce the feeling. From blinking to holding your reading close, learn more by reading our blog offering tips for reading in dim lighting.
Myth 3: Carrots improve your vision.
Next up on common eye and vision myths is carrots improve eyesight. Carrots are a healthy food choice and contain Vitamin A, which is good for eye health, but they will not improve your vision. Eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables is essential for overall eye health. However, carrots alone will not give you superhuman vision.
Myth 4: Two brown-eyed parents can’t have a blue-eyed child.
Turns out, predicting a child’s eye color from the parents’ eye color isn’t so simple. Current research indicates that up to 16 different genes may play a role in determining eye color. This means that even if both parents have the same eye color, their child could still have a completely different eye color.
Myth 5: Using glasses weakens your eyes.
Wearing glasses will not make your eyes weaker. Glasses are prescribed to help correct vision problems and alleviate eye strain. Avoiding wearing glasses when needed can lead to further eye strain and discomfort.
Myth 6: If you cross your eyes, they’ll stay crossed.
Your eye muscles enable you to move your eyes in a variety of ways. You can look up, down, left or right without your eyes staying in those positions, just as crossing your eyes won’t cause them to stay crossed. Crossed eyes are typically caused by disease, an uncorrected refractive defect or muscle or nerve damage.
Myth 7: Your eyes are perfect if you have 20/20 vision.
Think “normal” vision instead of “perfect” when it comes to 20/20 vision, which means an individual has excellent central vision and can see objects up to 20 feet away. On the other hand, the same person could have issues with peripheral vision, seeing colors or depth perception.
Summary
While we debunked these common eye and vision myths, be sure to ask your eye doctor about any other questionable eye and vision “facts” you’ve heard about during your next visit. If you are looking for an eye care professional in Mississippi, view our locations to find the Mississippi Eye Care clinic closest to you. Keep reading our blogs for more eye health and vision news and tips.
