Myths about eye health | OCU

Banish 5 unfounded beliefs

Reading in dim light impairs vision

This is an old myth: reading in low light makes reading difficult and uncomfortable It is not true that it spoils our point of view. Reading or looking at something in a poorly lit environment will give us the feeling that we are having difficulty concentrating, we will blink less and this will translate to dry eyes and eye fatigue, but it is about Transient effects, which recover with rest This does not translate into permanent damage to our ability to see.

Eating plenty of carrots is good for your eyesight.

A common myth says that to maintain good vision, you need to take plenty of Vitamin A (It is found in various foods, especially vegetables such as carrots, but also in dairy products or fish). The truth is This vitamin A is essential To maintain good health (both general and in kind) but a minimum intake is sufficient, which is already guaranteed with a normal diet. Taking more vitamin A than we need does not actually provide any additional benefit Excessive intake can be harmful. Also, eating carrots in very large amounts may cause carotenoids, a process in which the skin turns orange. So This statement is #Nocuela.

Blue light from screens damages the retina

Today we are constantly surrounded, on computers and mobile devices, by LED screens that emit blue light. A few years ago several studies were published where and after trials in the laboratory conducted with cells in culture and animals, indicate that blue light from these screens can cause damage to the retina.

This set off logical alarms and led to the commercial proliferation of filters for both devices and intraocular lenses…but the accumulating evidence is stubborn: There is still no evidence of this damage occurring in people exposed to blue light under real conditions. The American Academy of Ophthalmology or in our country the Spanish Society of Ophthalmology to refute this belief.

Sitting too close to the TV is bad for your eyes.

You often hear it said that getting too close to the TV or getting too close to a computer or mobile phone screen damages your eyesight. However, despite the prevalence of this belief, the consensus of specialists is on this It is not true if what we are talking about is permanent damage.

However, staying at a short distance from the screen for a long time can have undesirable consequences, because by doing so we force our eyes to make an effort to adjust the focal length and reduce flicker, which can lead to visual fatigue, with a feeling of tightness. Tightness or pain and dry eyes, however No longer temporary annoyances.

You must wait before having a cataract operation

A cataract occurs when the crystalline lens, the inner lens of our eyes, becomes opaque. Cataract formation is a gradual processIt is often associated with aging, although certain factors (such as diabetes or prolonged treatment with corticosteroids) may predispose to its early onset.

A lot of people think they shouldn’t be operated on until they are well developed, so you have to spend time looking bad… It’s not like that: this, which had a cause when cataract surgery started (you can only safely remove the lens if it’s done cataract development), since It doesn’t make sense at the moment. Today, surgery is indicated from the moment cataracts are detected and affects the quality of our vision, so we have to wait #Nocuela.

Take care of your eyes

• Against visual fatigue caused by working with screens or fixing your eyes on a particular object, It is convenient to apply the so-called 20-20-20 rulewhich consists of looking for at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes and looking at least 20 feet (about 6 meters) away
• If you use Contact lenses And you notice discomfort, pain, stinging, itching, redness… Temporarily stop using it and consult a doctor as soon as possible.
• If you notice persistence dry eyewho does not calm down despite rest, blinking, or the use of tears or serum, consult your doctor: it may be some other disease.
• Go to the eye doctor whenever you notice a change in vision, flashes, blurred vision, or double vision. If the change occurs suddenly, you should go to the emergency room.
• those who suffer from diabetic Regular eye examinations should be performed, as should those who have had them risk factors or family history Retinopathy, glaucoma, etc.