Misinformation is a common problem when it comes to eye health. Many people believe that if their vision isn’t blurry, they don’t need an eye examination, that drugstore eyeglasses offer a good solution, sitting too close to the TV will harm children’s eyes, children outgrow crossed eyes, and reading in the dark is bad for your eyes. Let's take a closer look at these popular myths and what the truth really is.
Myth: You Don't Need an Eye Examination if Your Vision Isn't Blurry
This is far from true. Even if you have 20/20 vision, you should still be examined by an optometrist each year. This is because there are many other issues that can affect your visual health such as glaucoma, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration which can only be detected through a comprehensive eye exam. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, it's also important to get your prescription checked every year to make sure it hasn't changed.
Myth: Drugstore Eyeglasses Offer a Good Solution if You're Having Trouble Seeing
Many people think that buying eyeglasses from a drugstore is a good idea because they are cheaper than getting them from an optometrist or optical store. However, this could not be further from the truth! Cheap eyeglasses may seem like a good idea but they often lack durability and won't provide the same level of comfort or protection as those from an optometrist or optical store. Moreover, these glasses may not contain lenses with the correct prescription for your eyesight needs, so even if you save money on the frames you may spend more in the long run by having to buy another pair of glasses with the correct prescription down the line.
Myth: Sitting Too Close to the TV Will Harm Your Children's Eyes
This myth has been around for decades but it has been debunked by doctors over and over again! There's no scientific evidence showing that sitting too close to a television screen can damage children's eyesight - in fact studies show that this habit does not cause any lasting harm to children's vision at all. That said, while sitting close to the TV won't directly harm your children's vision, it can lead to other problems such as neck strain due to poor posture so it should still be avoided when possible!
Myth: Children Outgrow Crossed Eyes
Crossed eyes (or strabismus) occur when both eyes do not point in the same direction at once - this can happen for several reasons including muscle imbalance and refractive errors such as nearsightedness or farsightedness. Contrary to popular belief however crossed eyes do not usually go away on their own as children age - instead treatment should begin as soon as possible after diagnosis so that permanent vision loss doesn't occur due to lack of proper treatment!
Myth: Reading in the Dark Is Bad for Your Eyes
While reading in dim light may cause some discomfort due to strained muscles or headaches due to squinting there is no evidence linking reading books in low light conditions directly with permanent damage of any kind - even though many people believe otherwise! However if your child does suffer from frequent headaches then it might be best for them avoid reading in dim lighting just in case there are underlying causes such as nearsightedness or astigmatism present which could lead to permanent vision damage without proper treatment!
It's easy for myths about eye health and vision care to circulate without being challenged – but understanding what’s true and what’s false can help keep our eyes healthy now and into old age. Yearly eye examinations offer a simple way to protect your visual health – plus regular checkups make sure any minor changes before they become major problems that require more intensive treatment down the road! So don’t wait; book yourself an appointment today with your local optometrist!
Sources:
All About Vision: Eye Exam Cost and When to Have an Eye Exam
American Optometric Association: Strabismus
American Academy of Ophthalmology: Can Sitting Too Close to the TV Damage Your Eyes?, 12/9/10