4 Eye Health Myths and What You Should Actually Be Doing

Eye conditions are becoming one of the most significant health concerns among people in their twenties.

The Ophthalmology Times reveals that young adults in their twenties and thirties are experiencing an early onset of eye conditions, even if they’re supposed to have a more robust and resilient health status than older adults.

Ophthalmologists believe these eye conditions are linked to increased gadget exposure and other harmful lifestyle practices that many young adults are unaware of.

The eye health of young adults can further worsen, especially if they don’t know which eye health tips are myths and which are real.

Though these myths are not always harmless, they may cause more patients to suffer supposedly-avoidable consequences, such as severe vision loss. This article examines four of the most popular eye health myths and discusses what you should do instead.

4 Eye Health Myths and What You Should Actually Be Doing

MYTH: Wearing eyeglasses will make your eyes weaker

Many people around the world still believe that wearing glasses weakens the eyes. What they don’t know is that eyeglasses do not cause the worsening of their vision but by other factors like age, genetics, and behavior.

On the other hand, not wearing prescription eyeglasses can actually cause discomfort in the long run. If you have to squint constantly to see more clearly, you are more likely to experience headaches throughout the day. You may also experience eye strain more often because you’re forcing your eyes to work harder to see letters and images.

MYTH: Wearing the wrong prescription will damage your eyes

Many people get headaches when they wear the wrong prescription. However, this is not because any part of your eye was actually damaged. Eyeglasses only change the light rays your eyes receive, so they can only cause your eyes to feel strained and tired whenever they fail to properly correct your vision.

That said, myopia can progress faster in children who wear the wrong prescription. Regardless of your age, getting the right prescription can vastly improve the quality of your life.

This can only be ascertained with a comprehensive eye exam done at an established optical retailer. Licensed optometrists conduct eye exams in these optical retail shops to ensure you get the right eye prescription.

MYTH: Reading in dim light permanently affects your vision

Many people believe that reading in the dark can cause you to develop poor vision. Though there is no scientific evidence actually supports this claim, reading in dim light can cause short-term eye fatigue because your pupils are forced to dilate more.

When eye strain becomes chronic, the eye muscles can weaken more rapidly than the average rate of macular degeneration.

Eye experts, therefore, recommend reading in good lighting as much as possible. If you need better light sources in your home, plenty of great bedside lamps are sold for under $200.

The Oxford by EQ3 is especially great for those who sleep with a partner because its 180-degree V-shaped shade makes adjusting the illumination quick and easy. This puts out an even and warm light that does not hurt the eyes and will help to gently lull you to sleep.

MYTH: Eating carrots can sharpen your vision

Carrots are known to have vitamin A and beta-carotene, which are essential for maintaining healthy eyesight. However, this doesn’t mean eating carrots can fix or sharpen your vision.

The vitamins and minerals in carrots and similar food can only slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration and aid in the retina’s process of converting light into signals, especially when taken with vitamins C and E and the mineral zinc.

This tells us that instead of loading up on just carrots, eating a balanced diet with the minimum daily requirements of essential nutrients is best.

Final Thoughts on These 4 Eye Health Myths

At the end of the day, it is more important to proactively care for your eye health instead of reactively addressing your vision when the damage is already done. By watching out for these myths and visiting your ophthalmologist regularly, you are two steps closer to healthier eyes.

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