7 Astonishing Eye Care Facts & Myths You Didn’t Know (But You Need To!)

The eyes are the most delicate and fascinating organ of the body. They are the window through which we view our surroundings and the world at large. It is through the eyes we make use of our invaluable sense of sight and so taking care of your eyes, is really a big deal.

Very often, we are told what to do and what not to do to ensure the safety of our eyes, but how many of these do’s, and don’ts are actually facts? You will be surprised to find out that some of these rules are simply myths and nothing more. Here are a few fascinating eye facts you probably didn’t know before.

1. You damage your eyes when you read in the dark. 

   Not True: Agreed, dim lights make reading quite difficult because you would have to strain your eyes to focus, but it does not damage the eyes. Back in the days when they had no electricity, all activities were done either by candlelight or kerosene lamps, and that includes reading, writing, sewing and others. Although reading with dim lighting can be stressful for your eyes and even cause temporary eye fatigue, especially for those who wear eyeglasses, it doesn’t damage your eyes’ function.

2. Using Computers can cause harm to your eyes 

   Not True: It is a common misconception that when you work on computers for a long time, you are damaging your eyes. This is not true. What happens when you stare at the screen for a long time is that the frequency with which you normally blink reduces and that causes dryness in your eyes. It does not damage the function of your eyes; it just makes your eyes dry.Dry eyes can be quite uncomfortable so you can make use of lubricating eye drops if it bothers you. You’re probably wondering about sitting too close to the TV and what that means for your eyes.

3. Sitting too close to the TV can hurt the children’s eyes 

   Not True: Yeah, you’ve most likely heard a lot of people say this, but it is not entirely true. Children, unlike adults, can concentrate on close objects without putting much strain on their eyes. They can focus up close, and you will notice this even when they hold books or other reading materials close to their eyes. While sitting up close to the TV will not damage children’s eyes, it can cause strain on their eyes. This habit of looking at things up close is common in children, but it generally starts to decline as they grow older. However, children who have myopia (short-sightedness) would always sit close to the TV so that they can see the pictures on the screen clearly.

4. Laser eye surgery can damage your eyes 

   Not True: Due to the hypersensitivity of the eyes, people often get scared when they hear about laser eye surgery. Most often, the image that comes to mind is poking and the prodding of the eyes with surgical tools, but that’s far from the truth. Laser eye surgery is not as invasive as you may think, and just like every other type of surgery, it comes with its own risks. It is usually an alternative option for certain people with some form of eye impairment, many of whom the use of eyeglasses or contact lenses may pose an issue for. Latest Laser eye surgery in London is a very safe procedure and is often used by patients to achieve 20/20 vision. The most frequently used type of laser eye surgery is the Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis, commonly referred to as LASIK.

5. LASIK is painful, and it’s not a real surgery 

   Not True: Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is a simple, swift and painless eye surgery. In as little as 15 – 20 minutes, you can get your LASIK eye surgery done. Local anaesthesia is typically used, and so you do not feel pain throughout the procedure. Eye surgery does not involve opening up and cutting like other major surgeries, so you have no need to be anxious about it. Surgical blades are not needed because it is a non-invasive procedure. Its effects usually occur almost immediately as patients start to see the result of the surgery, within the first 24 hours after the procedure.

6. LASIK can make you go blind 

   Not True: Blindness is one amongst the many complications that could happen during eye surgery, but the reality is they almost never do. Their occurrence is extremely rare, so the idea that LASIK eye surgery makes people blind is completely false and a misconception. Unfortunately, it is for this reason many people decide to change their vision treatment plan, unaware of what they are losing out on. When you understand the process involved in eye surgery, you would know how safe and effective it is, in enhancing your vision for life.

7. All “Eye doctors” are the same 

   Not True: It might seem logical to want to classify all doctors that treat eye problems as the same, but they aren’t. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who is trained, certified and has the skills needed to diagnose and treat all diseases relating to the eyes. On the other hand, optometrist and opticians are certified and trained on just some aspects of the eyes. They cannot write prescriptions for all kinds of medications, and there are certain types of eye surgery they are not licensed to perform.

You may find some of these hard to digest because you have believed them all your life, but now you know better. The eyes are very sensitive, but they don’t stop functioning because of dim lights or long hours on the computer. They, however, do get strained. LASIK eye surgery is a lot safer and simpler than most people give it credit for. It is a non-invasive procedure and a very effective treatment for restoring your eyesight.