"Fact or Myth?" All your optical questions answered By Joel C. Wolf of Village Opticians

Myth: Sitting too close to the TV is bad for the eyes.       
Although parents have been saying this for as long as we've had TVs in our homes, there's no evidence that sitting down a foot in front of the TV damages someone's eyes. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) says that kids can actually focus up close without eyestrain better than adults, so they often develop the habit of sitting right in front of the television or holding reading material close to their eyes. 

Fact: We will inherit bad eye sight from our parents.                                             Unfortunately, this one is sometimes true. If your parents needed glasses for good vision or have developed an eye condition (such as cataracts), you might inherit that same trait. 

Myth: Eating carrots can improve vision.                                                   Although it's true that carrots are rich in vitamin A, which is essential for sight, so are many other foods (asparagus, apricots, nectarines, and milk, for example). A well-balanced diet can provide the vitamin A needed for good vision.

Myth: Computer use can damage the eyes.                                             According to the AAO, computer use won't harm the eyes. However, when using a computer for long periods of time, the eyes blink less than normal. This makes the eyes dry, which may lead to a feeling of eyestrain or fatigue. Additionally, wearing your reading or distance prescription eyeglasses will cause strain when using your computer. The proper eyeglasses for computer use will hold their own unique prescription. This prescription will be appropriate for the distance you are from your computer screen. We should always try to take frequent breaks from our computer screens whenever possible. 

Myth: Two blue-eyed parents can't produce a brown-eyed child.                      Two blue-eyed parents can have a child with brown eyes, although it's very rare. Likewise, two brown-eyed parents can have a child with blue eyes, although this is also uncommon.

Fact:  Looking Straight at the Sun Will Damage Your Sight.                             Looking at the sun may not only cause headache and distort your vision temporarily, it can also cause permanent damage to the eyes. Any exposure to sunlight adds to the cumulative damaging effects of UV radiation on your eyes. UV exposure has been linked to many eye disorders such as macular degeneration, solar retinitis, and corneal dystrophies. This is why we so strongly urge everyone to wear a well made pair of sunglasses whenever they are outside.

Fact:  Using Artificial Sweeteners Will Make Your Eyes More Sensitive to Light.     If you use artificial sweeteners, like cyclamates, your eyes may be more sensitive    to light. There are other factors that will make your eyes more sensitive to light as well. They include antibiotics, oral contraceptives, high blood pressure drugs, diuretics, and diabetic medications.

I hope I've provided you with some new knowledge as well as some interesting facts to share over dinner! Feel free to stop by to discuss any questions about your vision or eyeglasses you might have.