Top Eye Health Myths

Sighstavers India, November 2014
Top Eye Health Myths
  1. I don’t need an eye exam if I can see clearly
    An annual eye check can protect more than just your sight. It can detect early symptoms of serious health conditions such as tumors, diabetes, hypertension, increased cholesterol, etc. Additionally, some eye diseases such as Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration have no visible symptoms. A yearly eye exam is therefore essential to protecting your eye health, regardless of the visual status of your eyes.
  2. Eating carrots will automatically improve my vision
    Carrots – along with several other foods such as spinach, sweet potato, apricots, etc. – are rich sources of Vitamin A, which helps protect the surface of the eye (cornea) from ulcers, dryness and other defects. It also helps prevent night blindness. So although Vitamin A is essential to maintaining good eye health, it may not improve your vision if you have poor eye sight due to reasons other than Vitamin A deficiency.
  3. Darker sunglasses offer better eye protection against the Sun
    This is false. Only sunglasses that offer 99-100% UVA and UVB filtration can protect your eyes from the Sun’s harmful rays. It doesn’t matter if they have dark or light coloured lenses. The only advantage dark lenses can have is they may reduce discomfort for people with extreme light sensitivity.
  4. Opening my eyes in a swimming pool does not harm my eyes
    Many contaminants exist in swimming pool water, and opening your eyes without protective goggles underwater will expose your eyes to these contaminants and increase the risk of infection. Excessive chemicals in many swimming pools may also wash away your natural tears and cause irritation, dryness and conjunctivitis (or pink eye). It is therefore a good idea to always wear swimming goggles underwater and protect your eye health.

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