Do you know these
facts and myths about eye care? Test yourself with the following
True or False statements
and see how much you know about your eyes.
Reading in dim
light will hurt your eyes
Using the eyes in dim light does not damage
them. It wasn’t too long ago that all nighttime reading
and sewing was done by candlelight or with gas or kerosene
lamps. Everyone should use good lighting, however, to make
reading easier.
(Answer: False)
Not using the proper glasses will
hurt your eyes
Glasses are simply aids to improve vision. Going without
glasses or lacking proper glasses will not physically damage
your eyes. Eyes are neither strengthened nor weakened by glasses.
Wearing glasses at an early age will not worsen eyesight.
The one exception is in children with crossed eyes (strabismus)
or lazy eye (amblyopia), where glasses may straighten the
eyes and preserve vision. While it is desirable to have corrective
glasses or contacts to provide optimum vision, we should never
fear loss of vision for lack of proper glasses. Furthermore,
using your eyes will not damage them, whether or not you are
wearing your glasses.
(Answer: False)
Using computers will not damage
your eyes
Using computers or video display terminals (VDTs) will not
harm your eyes. However, eye strain or fatigue may develop
with prolonged periods of close work or reading. Taking breaks
and looking up or across the room at frequent intervals usually
relieves the strain. If your vision blurs or your eyes tire
easily you should have your eyes examined by an ophthalmologist.
(Answer: True)
Children usually outgrow crossed
eyes
Real crossing of the eyes in children is not outgrown. Some
children have a wide bridge of the nose which makes the eyes
look crossed, but this facial appearance of crossing can improve
with age. To avoid seeing double, a child whose eyes are really
crossed will use only one eye at a time. The unused or crossed
eye may never develop good vision unless the child is forced
to use it, usually by patching of the good eye. Crossed eyes
may be straightened by glasses, eye drops, or surgery. In
general, the earlier crossed eyes are treated the better.
Children who appear to have crossed eyes should be examined
by an ophthalmologist.
(Answer: False)
Eye trouble is the cause of reading
disability (dyslexia)
Reading problems are often referred to as dyslexia. There
is no scientific evidence that eye trouble causes dyslexia,
or that eye exercises cure dyslexia. Dyslexia is a learning
disorder, not an eye problem.
(Answer: False)
Sitting close to the television
can be normal
Children have a greater ability to focus up close without
strain than do adults. They often develop habits of holding
reading material close to their eyes or sitting close to the
television. There is no evidence that this damages the eyes,
and these habits will usually change as the children grow
older. Occasionally, children with nearsightedness (myopia)
sit close to the television to enable them to see images more
clearly. An ophthalmologist can diagnose this condition which
is correctable with glasses.
(Answer: True)
Eating carrots will improve your
vision
It is true that carrots are rich in Vitamin A, which is
essential for sight; however, many other foods also contain
Vitamin A. Only a small amount is necessary for vision. A
well-balanced diet, with or without carrots, provides all
the nutrients necessary for good vision. Excessive doses of
Vitamin A, D, or E may even be harmful.
(Answer: False)
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