Our eyes are incredibly complex and can be easily misunderstood. Misconceptions can lead to improper eye care, which, in extreme cases, can cause permanent vision loss. At River City Eye Care, we want to ensure you’re getting the most out of your vision. Let’s debunk some of the most common eye myths and uncover the truths to help us maintain optimal eye health.
Myth #1: Wearing glasses/contacts makes your vision worse
Fact: Corrective lenses do not weaken your eyes. They help you see better by correcting refractive errors. Not wearing your prescribed glasses or contacts can cause eye strain and discomfort over time. Myopia control lenses are available to slow down the progression of nearsightedness in children, helping to preserve distance vision.
Myth #2: Sunglasses are only for sunny days
Fact: Sunglasses should be worn outside even on cloudy days to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. UV rays from the sun can penetrate through clouds and cause damage to your eyes over time, leading to a higher risk of developing eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration.
Myth #3: Contact lenses can get lost behind your eye
Fact: It is physically impossible to lose a contact lens behind your eyes. A thin membrane called the conjunctiva covers your eye and connects to the inside of your eyelids, preventing anything from going behind your eye. However, contact lens wearers need to follow proper use guidelines to avoid potential eye damage.
Myth #4: If you see clearly, you don’t need eye exams
Fact: Regular eye exams are important even if you can see without glasses or contacts. Eye exams can detect early signs of eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and other health issues that may not have immediately noticeable symptoms. Vision loss can go unnoticed as it is often gradual, making routine eye exams critical for early detection and treatment.
Myth #5: Only men can be colourblind
Fact: Colour blindness is more common in males, but females can also be colourblind. Colour blindness is a genetic condition that affects approximately 8% of men (1 in 12) and 0.5% of women (1 in 200).
Myth #6: People who are colourblind see in black and white
Fact: Total loss of colour perception is scarce. Red-green colour vision deficiency (deutanomaly) is the most common form of colour blindness, making it difficult to differentiate between red and green. Blue-yellow colour deficiency (tritanomaly) is less common and can affect different colours depending on the type and severity of blue-yellow deficiency.
Myth #7: Staring at the sun is good for your eyes
Fact: Looking at the sun in any capacity, commonly called “sun gazing” can cause severe damage to your retinas and permanent vision loss. Never look directly at the sun without using a solar viewer that meets the ISO 12312-2 standard.
Myth #8: Your eyes will pop out if you sneeze with your eyes open
Fact: Sneezing with your eyes open will not cause your eyes to pop out of your eye sockets. However, sneezing with your eyes open is extremely difficult as the reflex to close your eyes while sneezing is strong.
Personalized Eye Care
Many myths about our eyes can lead to misunderstandings about how to care for our vision. While many of these myths are harmless, some can lead to serious, irreversible damage to our eyes. You should always book an appointment with your optometrist if you are experiencing problems with your vision. Scheduling routine eye exams is also important for staying on top of your eye health. If you are experiencing changes in your vision or are due for your next eye exam, book a comprehensive eye appointment with our team today!