Do these lines seem familiar? You may have heard these a thousand times from your parents, or elders since you first learned to read or watch TV. But there is no truth to this, according to Marianas Eye Institute on Beach Road.
In its most recent newsletter, Marianas Eye Institute stated that using your eyes in dim light does not damage them.
“For centuries, all night time reading and sewing was done by candlelight or with gas or kerosene lamps.
However, good lighting does make reading easier and can prevent eye fatigue,” MEI stated.
The Eye Digest of the University of Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary in Chicago stated that these are just two of the many optical myths that has been instilled in the consciousness of people and has evolved for generations.
Sitting closer than necessary to the television, according to The Eye Digest, may give you a headache, but it will not damage your vision or weaken your sight. This is because modern televisions do not emit harmful radiation.
Myth versus fact
Here are more myths about the eyes and your vision from The Eye Digest.
Myth: Reading in poor light or reading very small print can damage your vision.
Fact: This is not true. If you use your eyes for longer time, you may only get tired and suffer headache but it will not make your sight weaker. Reading in dim light is not recommended because you will feel tired and
uncomfortable but it will not cause any damage.
Myth: Spending a long time in front of the computer can damage your vision.
Fact: Wrong. The eyes are meant to be used. Prolonged use of your eyes will only cause fatigue, eye strain or dry eye.
Have you noticed that when you have been glued to your computer for a long time, everything looks blurry when you finally get up? Don’t panic, you’re not going blind but only suffering from eye fatigue or strain. Eye doctors recommend “resting” your eyes away from the screen by focusing your vision at a far object every few minutes.
Myth: Eyeglasses can help you see better but over time, your vision gets worse.
Fact: The Eye Digest explains that before you use eyeglasses, you are used to seeing everything in a blur around you and you take this to be normal. When you started using eyeglasses, everything becomes clear. When you take off your glasses after some months, your blurry vision will come back. The situation of your vision is the same but now you know the difference between a blurry and clear world.
Eyeglasses also need to be constantly changed with higher powered ones.
Myth: Over- the- counter reading glasses hurt the eye.
Fact: Eyeglasses do not weaken the eyes but they just help improve your vision. You may have noticed that as people get older, they start finding it hard to read close up. The condition of inability to focus on near objects is actually related to aging, and not with wearing eyeglasses.
Myth: Wearing contact lenses will prevent nearsightedness from getting much worse.
Fact: Again, eyeglasses or contact lenses can help you see clearer. With contact lenses, you enjoy a cosmetic advantage against eyeglasses but it will not worsen your nearsightedness.
Myth: Eating carrots can improve vision.
Fact: If you are eating healthy food, carrots don’t have a direct impact in improving your eyesight. Carrots however are rich in beta carotene, an element of Vitamin A that helps maintain normal vision.
Myth: A person with glaucoma cannot wear contacts.
Fact: The Marianas Eye Institute doctors said that most people with glaucoma can wear contact lenses without any difficulty.
However, if a person has had glaucoma-filtering surgery, it may be difficult or not advisable to wear contact lenses.
The eye institute explained that in standard glaucoma surgery, a water blister called a “bleb” often is present on top of the eye, underneath the upper eyelid.
“On occasion the bleb can make fitting a contact lens difficult, particularly a larger, extended-wear or soft lens.
Also, there is always a risk of an eye infection following glaucoma surgery and contact lenses do increase the risk of developing an eye infection, particularly if lenses are not cared for properly, are left in the eye for longer than recommended or are extended wear lenses,” Marianas Eye Institute stated.
If you have glaucoma and wear contact lenses, or if you are planning to wear one in the future, consult your eye specialists.
May is UV Safety month
Are your eyes protected from the harmful and damaging effects of the ultraviolet rays that are so intense here in the island? The same ultraviolet rays -A and ultraviolet rays-B that damage your skin can harm your eyes too.
For protection, wear large brimmed hats and the right kind of sunglasses when you are outside.
Your eyes need the most protection especially when the UV light is the most intense, like during the mid-day, or whenever you are out enjoying any of the water activities around the islands.
Check out the UV blocking sunglasses at Marianas Eye Institute including special polarized lenses and best brands like Ray Ban and Salvatore Ferragamo.
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