Why Eyes Matters As We Enter National Eye Health Week
True or False?
“Watching too much TV or sitting too close to the screen ruins your eyesight”
Staring at a TV screen a few meters away from you does not create short-sightedness, long-sightedness or astigmatism. However, digital screens like phone or tablet screens are viewed at a close distance, e.g. within arm’s reach, and are pixelated – with the pixels constantly refreshing – which means both the above aspects mean your eyes are having to work much harder to view which often leads to eye strain.
A good rule to obey if you must look at your screen for sustained periods would be to follow the 20-20-20 rule (take a break from screens every 20 minutes, focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds) or by using special lenses designed reduce eye strain from screens. Another great idea for any younger person is to spend more time outdoors, there is ever more evidence that suggests this can reduce the onset of short sightedness.
“Eating carrots improves your vision”
Vitamins A, C and E can help to maintain healthy eyes and vision. Carrots are rich in vitamin A so, while eating them as part of a balanced diet that promotes eye health can help to maintain good sight, there is no solid evidence that specifically links eating lots of carrots to better eye health. Other foods such as salmon and tuna, and dark, leafy greens (such as spinach and kale) are also great foods to promote and maintain healthy sight.
“Reading in the dark will damage your eyes”
While reading in low light may cause eye fatigue and, possibly, a headache, it cannot cause permanent damage. Our eyes are designed to adjust to different light levels. If you’re in a darkened room your pupils dilate to take in more light. Cells in your retina, called rods and cones, use this light to provide information to the brain about what you can see. That’s why you can eventually see shapes and objects in a darkened room. And if they are then subject to bright light they have to adjust once more.
The question of why people develop eye conditions such as short-sightedness and long-sightedness is a complex one, and more likely related to family history (and lots of other factors) than light levels.
“Wearing glasses all of the time will weaken your eyes”
Permanently wearing corrective lenses in glasses does not make our eyes worse; conversely if you need glasses and don’t wear them you might find your eyes become tired. People who have short-sightedness have difficulty seeing objects that are far away and can only focus on objects up close. When someone who is far-sighted doesn’t wear glasses, the eyes have to work harder as they need to focus on far away targets, often leading to headaches and eye fatigue.
Personalisation is extremely important when it comes to corrective lenses. Several factors like the position of the eyes, the angle and position of the frame, and the distance between pupils make prescription glasses unique for each wearer. Therefore, a correct prescription, spectacle lens centration along with frame fitting is very important for good vision.
“You only need to go for eye examinations if you wear glasses or lenses”
This couldn’t be further from the truth. There are certain conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts and AMD (macular degeneration) that routine eye examinations pick up. Vision tests and eye examinations also differ. A vision test considers how short or long sighted a person is. Eye examinations evaluate ocular motility, visual fields, eye structures and the fundus. We recommend an eye exam at least every two years for people under 65 and yearly when over 65.
Dr Hepworth adds, “Good eye health can be the result of many factors. Our advice is to maintain regular checks, try to reduce eye strain and invest in quality lenses for happy, healthy sight.”
For more information, visit: www.essilor.co.uk
