Harvard Medical School Debunks Five Myths About Eye Care

Always Question Your Assumptions

We all take certain ‘facts’ as truth. In many cases, we don’t question our assumptions. That is Someone once said: “always question your assumptions.” We think that’s a great idea -especially when talking about your eye care.  So, hold on tight, get ready for some real myth busters straight from one of the most respected educational institutions around – the Harvard Medical School. This is taken from their article, “5 truths about protecting your eyes.”
 

Myth #1 – Doing eye exercises will delay the need for glasses

Fact: Eye exercises do not improve or even preserve your vision or need for glasses. More important is the shape of your eye and the health of the eye tissue, neither of which is changed by performing eye exercises.
 

Myth #2 – Reading in dim light will worsen your vision

Fact: Dim lighting does not harm your eyesight. However, it does tire your eyes more quickly. Position a reading light directly onto the page, not over your shoulder. A desk lamp with an opaque shade pointing directly at the reading material is ideal.
 

Myth #3 – Carrots are the best food for the eyes

Fact: Carrots are jam packed with vitamin A and are great for your eyes, no doubt. But food that contains a lot of antioxidant vitamins like C and E are better. This includes green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits. Antioxidants protect your eyes from cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
 

Myth #4 – It’s best not to wear glasses or contact lenses all the time. Taking a break from them allows your eyes to rest.

Fact: Use your glasses if you need them to read or see at a distance. Not wearing your glasses will actually tire your eyes out rather than resting them.
 

Myth #5 – Staring at a computer screen all day is bad for the eyes.

Fact: Staring at a computer screen doesn’t ‘hurt’ or harm your eyes but it does make them tired. A lot of times this is due to not blinking. When you stare at a monitor all day long, you tend not to blink as much. This contributes to eyestrain. A good tip is to get up every 20 minutes and take a break from the screen.