OLD WIVES' TALES OR FACT?

Old wives' tales abound about numerous topics including the eyes and vision. Some of them are clearly myths, often used by parents or grandparents to frighten or discipline children into behaving themselves. An example of this is if you cross your eyes and the wind changes, your eyes will remain crossed forever! Many other myths have some foundation in fact but are sometimes embellished with information or theories that may or may not be true. 

SITTING TOO CLOSE TO THE TV IS BAD FOR THE EYES

Watching too much TV or sitting too close to the screen may give you a headache or make your eyes feel tired or strained, but there is no evidence to suggest that it will harm your vision. In fact, children can generally focus up close with no eyestrain better than adults can, so they often develop the habit of sitting close to the TV without any ill-effects. Parents need to be aware, though, that needing to sit close to the TV may be an indication of shortsightedness which requires an eye examination by your optometrist. The same is true for children holding a book close to the face while reading. This may or may not be cause for concern but a visit to your optometrist will detect whether there is a problem or not. 

COMPUTER USE IS HARMFUL TO THE EYES

Electronic screens won't harm the eyes but staring at them for an extended period can increase dryness and eyestrain, partly because we tend to blink less frequently while working on computers. Discuss with your optometrist using lubricating eye drops and glasses specifically for computer work. Take frequent breaks by following the 20-20-20 rule – every 20 minutes look away from the computer at a spot 20 feet away for 20 seconds. And remember to blink! 

EATING CARROTS CAN IMPROVE VISION

Carrots themselves are not a magic food for eye health but they are rich in vitamin A, an antioxidant essential for maintaining healthy eyes and vision. Other foods which contain this essential nutrient include green leafy vegetables, asparagus, apricots, milk, egg yolk and liver. A well-balanced diet can provide the vitamin A and other nutrients needed for all-round health and good vision. Poor nutrition, on the other hand, has been implicated in certain diseases of the eyes. 

POOR VISION IS GENETIC

While this is a more complex issue than simply genetics and environmental factors having a role to play, it has been determined that certain vision problems have a strong genetic link. There is a greater risk of developing cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration if there is a family history of these conditions. Refractive errors (shortsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism) are genetically determined and are more likely to occur if one or both parents have these vision problems. Discussing your family medical history with your optometrist and having regular eye examinations will lead to early detection and management of inherited vision conditions. 

WEARING YOUR GLASSES TOO MUCH WILL WEAKEN YOUR EYES

The purpose of glasses or contact lenses is to help you see more clearly. Not using them for fear of making your eyes too dependent on them will lead to eyestrain and headaches. The eyes may weaken over time and your prescription may change. This is not caused by "over-wearing" glasses or contact lenses but rather by numerous factors including changes to the eyes as we get older or the presence of eye disease. 

ONLY BOYS CAN BE COLOUR BLIND

This is not strictly accurate but the incidence of colour blindness is significantly higher in males than females. It is estimated that 8% of males and 0.5% of females are colour blind (or more correctly, colour deficient). The genes responsible for the most common form are on the X chromosome. Males only have one X chromosome, while females have two X chromosomes. In females, a functional gene on only one of the X chromosomes is enough to compensate for the loss on the other. Generally, the gene for colour blindness is carried by the mother and the deficiency emerges in her male offspring. 

LOOKING STRAIGHT AT THE SUN WILL DAMAGE YOUR EYES

Looking at the sun may not only cause a headache and distort your vision temporarily, but it can also cause permanent damage to the retina at the back of your eye. Any exposure to sunlight adds to the cumulative effects of ultraviolet radiation which has been linked to eye conditions such as macular degeneration, solar retinitis, cataracts, pterygia, and corneal dystrophies. The most dangerous times for sun gazing are at midday and during a solar eclipse. The brightness of the sun may be hidden but the dangerous invisible rays that permanently damage your eyes are not reduced. 

DO EYE EXERCISES AND THROW AWAY YOUR GLASSES

People normally need glasses to correct their vision because of the shape and size of their eyes, among other factors. While regular eye exercises may strengthen eye muscles, they will not alter the shape of the eyes or influence the need for glasses. 

WEARING SOMEONE ELSE'S GLASSES WILL DAMAGE YOUR EYES

Although you may not be able to see very well with them and may get a headache or double vision your eyes won't come to any harm from wearing glasses that are not your prescription. 

READING IN DIM LIGHT WILL MAKE YOU SHORTSIGHTED

Reading in dim light or in the dark is highly unlikely to cause any permanent damage to your eyes, but it could cause your eyes to feel strained or tired. Your eyes are designed to adjust to the light around them and your pupils enlarge in order to collect the maximum amount of light possible. Although you will not harm yourself by reading in the dark, it is more difficult to see and it may cause some discomfort. 

CONTACT LENSES CAN GET LOST BEHIND YOUR EYES

The membrane that covers the white of your eye also lines your eyelids, making it impossible for a contact lens to get lost behind your eyes. 

A NIGHT LIGHT IN A CHILD'S ROOM WILL CONTRIBUTE TO SHORTSIGHTEDNESS

There is insufficient evidence to support this claim. In fact, some experts are of the opinion that keeping a night light on in a baby's room may actually help him or her learn to focus and develop important eye coordination skills. 

YOU CAN SLEEP WITH CONTACT LENSES IN YOUR EYES

Unless you have been told specifically by your optometrist that you can sleep in your contact lenses, you should avoid this. Your eyes need to breathe whilst wearing contact lenses, and this is more difficult when your eyes are closed. When you are asleep and not blinking your contact lenses will not move on your eyes as much as when you are awake, increasing the risk of infection. Follow your optometrist's instructions. If in doubt take them out! 

IF YOU CROSS YOUR EYES THEY WILL STAY THAT WAY

Contrary to the old wives' tale, eyes will not stay that way if you cross them! However, if your child is constantly crossing one eye or both eyes, schedule an appointment with your optometrist. Children do not generally outgrow strabismus or crossed eyes on their own but this can be more easily corrected at a younger age.