1. Looking directly at the sun will harm your eyes – (FACT)

Even a quick glimpse of the sun is usually painful and difficult, so our natural instinct is to immediately squint and turn away. But if it’s cloudy or hazy, or there’s a solar eclipse taking place, then looking at the sun seems easier and feels less painful. Beware … damage will occur!

When you stare directly at the sun—or other types of bright light such as a welding torch—ultraviolet light floods your retina, literally burning the exposed tissue.

Even if you haven’t been actively sun-gazing, it’s important to note that damage can accumulate over many years of sun exposure. Once again, it’s the UV light that’s the problem, resulting in corneal sunburn, cataracts and growths on the eye surface. These typically become apparent when a person is over 50, but if you’re outdoors a lot or don’t wear eye protection, it can happen earlier.

Remember to protect your eyes and keep them in top condition, wear sunglasses that filter out both UV light.

2. We must eat a whole lot of carrots to improve our eye health (Myth & Fact)

Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which the body utilizes to produce Vitamin A.  They are good for lowering cholesterol levels and yes, for improving vision. Vitamin A helps the eye convert light to a signal sent to the brain, allowing you to see better in low light.

According to studies, it is still unclear how much carrots one has to eat to improve their night vision. Most research is focused on beta-carotene or Vitamin A supplements, but not specifically on carrots. However, too much screen time can tire out our eyes. Hence, our eyes tend to itch or water after spending a lot of time in front of screens. To ensure better eye health, we must take frequent breaks and watch it in proper lighting.

3. Sitting too close to the television will damage our eyes (MYTH)

Contrary to popular myth, sitting too close to a TV will not damage your eyes but it may cause eyestrain. Children can focus at a close distance without eye strain better than adults. Therefore, children often develop the habit of holding reading materials close to their eyes or sitting right in front of the TV.

There is no evidence that this damages the eyes either in children or adults. With children, this habit usually diminishes as they grow older. To ensure better eye health, we recommend frequent breaks and watch it in proper lighting.

4. Too much computer or phone time can damage your eyes (FACT)

These days many of us have jobs that require us to stare at computer screens for hours at a time. That can put a real strain on your eyes.

Eye problems caused by computer use falls under the heading computer vision syndrome (CVS). It isn’t one specific problem. Instead, it includes a whole range of eye strain and discomfort. Research shows that between 50-90% of people who work at a computer screen have at least some symptoms.

Working adults aren’t the only ones affected. Kids who stare at tablets or use computers during the day at school can have issues too, especially if the lighting and their posture are less than ideal.

Too much exposure to these devices causes eye strain and the continued exposure to blue light greatly reduces the strength of your vision. Shop for blue light blocking glasses today from our store.

5. All of us gradually lose our vision as we age (FACT)

After you pass the milestone age of 40, you’ll notice it’s more difficult to focus on objects up close. This is because the lens inside the eye begins to lose its ability to change shape — a process called presbyopia.

Temporarily can compensate for this gradual decline in focusing ability by holding reading material farther away from your eyes. But eventually you will need reading glasses, progressive lenses or multifocal contact lenses.

As you continue to age through your 50s and beyond, presbyopia becomes more advanced. You may notice the need for more frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions. You may also find that a single prescription is no longer the best solution for all your visual needs.

As an example, you may need one pair of eyeglasses for normal tasks and another that emphasizes intermediate ranges for working more comfortably at the computer.

6. Wearing the wrong eyeglasses can hurt our eyes (FACT)

It is essential to be aware of the effects of wearing wrong prescription glasses.

Wearing the wrong prescription glasses won’t damage your eyes but can cause unnecessary discomfort. If you’ve never worn glasses before, you may not know any difference and think feeling dizzy while wearing glasses is normal—the good news is, it isn’t!

However, when you are wearing glasses with a new prescription or are wearing prescription glasses for the first time, feeling some discomfort is normal and it can take a while for your eyes to adjust. For some people, it can take only 2 to 3 days and for others, it can take as long as two weeks. If you are still feeling dizzy after two weeks of wearing your new glasses, book an appointment with us to get your eye prescription checked.