In the United States, 12 million people over 40 struggle with vision impairment. Did you know that you can prevent most eye issues with regular eye care and checkups?
When researching the best ways to care for your eyes, it can be hard to discern between fact and fiction. If you want to take control of your eye health, read on as we debunk common eye care myths.
1. You Can’t Do Anything For Cataracts
Cataracts are when your eye’s naturally clear lens becomes cloudy. It’s a common misconception that there’s nothing you can do about the onset of cataracts. While you can’t prevent them entirely, you can slow the onset.
Keep up with regular eye exams to detect cataracts early. Daily habits that slow the progression are wearing UV-protecting sunglasses and eating a balanced diet.
2. Reading Glasses Are Just as Good as Prescription Glasses
Many people who opt to buy reading glasses from their local store swear by them. While reading glasses can help improve some reading problems related to eyesight, they likely aren’t helping as much as you think.
Eye doctors prescribe glasses related to your individual needs. Often individuals have a different vision in one eye compared to the other. When this occurs, doctors prescribe glasses with different lenses to accommodate their needs.
Reading glasses can be a great temporary fix but are no match for prescription lenses.
3. Reading in Dim Light Harms Your Eyes
If you’re an avid reader, chances are you’ve heard this myth from your friends are family. While reading in dim lighting isn’t very comfortable on the eyes because it causes them to strain, it will not harm your vision.
4. People With Good Vision Don’t Need Eye Exams
People with perfect vision often think they can skip eye exams because they don’t need glasses or contacts. In reality, eye exams are a must for everyone to maintain eye health, regardless of vision.
During eye exams, doctors examine your eyes for signs of developing conditions like glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy. These conditions can progress into blindness if you don’t catch them early on.
5. Eye Exercises Improve Your Vision
Eye exercises are believed to strengthen your eye muscles, help with focus, and ease eye movements. While they can result in vision improvement in children, they don’t do much for vision in adults.
Watch Out for Signs of Vision Problems
One of the key ways to take care of your eyes is to watch out for early signs of vision problems. Double vision, swelling, blind spots, pain, dry eyes, light sensitivity, red eyes, and headaches can all be signs of bigger issues.
Find dry eye relief to relieve the discomfort associated with dry eyes. If you suspect a greater problem, contact your eye doctor.
Don’t Fall for These Common Eye Care Myths
Don’t believe everything you hear when it comes to eye care. If you have a question about the appropriate care for your eyes, always seek information from a professional.
Interested in more health information? Take a look at some of our other articles on health.
