When it comes to eye health, there’s a lot of information floating around—but not all of it is true. Over time, myths about our eyes and vision have become surprisingly widespread, often passed down from generation to generation.
So, let’s set the record straight. Here are five common eye myths, busted by optometrists.
Myth 1: Only people with blurry vision need an eye exam
It’s easy to assume that if you’re not experiencing blurred vision, your eyes must be fine.
Don’t be fooled - even if your vision seems perfect, regular eye exams are still important.
Many serious eye conditions, like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration, can develop without any noticeable symptoms in the early stages.
By the time you notice vision changes, the condition may have progressed. Routine eye exams help detect issues early, giving you the best chance to protect your vision and overall eye health.
Your eyes can also provide a detailed glimpse into your overall health, offering a little-known avenue to catching several medical conditions, like diabetes, stroke and high cholesterol, before other symptoms have even appeared.
Myth 2: Sitting too close to the TV will make your eyes go square
If you spent your childhood being told to move away from the TV to protect your eyes, you’re not alone. It was a common warning growing up, but is there any truth to it?
Yes, sitting close to the TV might cause temporary eye strain, especially for children, but it won’t permanently damage your eyesight. As children often can focus on near objects better than adults, they might naturally sit closer to screens just out of comfort and capability.
However, if you or your child are consistently sitting close to the TV or holding screens close to your face, it could be a sign of myopia.
Commonly known as short-sightedness, myopia is a prevalent vision condition that affects 6.3 million Australians and experts predict that more than half of us will be myopic by 2050.
And, contrary to popular belief, it’s not so much the screen time that creates the biggest problem in the battle against myopia; it’s the hours it takes away from getting outside and soaking up enough green time that does the real damage.
Optometry Australia advises that children need to spend more than one hour, and preferably at least two hours a day, outside to help prevent myopia from developing and progressing.
Myth #3: Wearing glasses will make your eyes weaker
Many people believe that once you start wearing glasses, your eyes will become dependent on them and your vision will worsen. But is this just an old wives’ tale?
The truth is wearing glasses does not weaken your eyes. Glasses simply correct your vision; they don’t change the underlying structure of your eyes.
If your prescription changes over time, it’s likely due to natural changes in your eyes as you age, not because of wearing glasses. In fact, not wearing your glasses when you need them can lead to headaches and eye strain, making you more uncomfortable in the long run.
Myth 4: Carrots are the best food for eye health
In a best of intention ploy to get us to crunch on carrots when we were young, many of our parents would have posed that eating plenty of Bugs Bunny’s veg of choice would be the gateway to gaining and maintaining perfect vision.
However, even when our mothers may know best much of the time, this popular belief actually came from World War II propaganda, not science, and the idea has persisted ever since.
While carrots do contain beta-carotene, a form of vitamin A that’s important for eye health and night vision, a balanced diet with a variety of nutrients, including leafy greens, fish high in omega-3s and foods rich in vitamins C and E, is much better for preserving healthy vision overall.
And just remember, no amount of healthy food in your diet trumps regular visits to the optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam.
Myth 5: Contact lenses can get lost behind the eye
It might sound like the stuff of nightmares but no, contact lenses cannot get lost behind your eye.
There’s a thin, protective membrane called the conjunctiva that covers the whites of your eyes and connects to your eyelids, making it impossible for the lens to move behind the eyeball.
It might occasionally get stuck under your eyelid, which is temporarily uncomfortable, but it can be easily removed with gentle blinking or washing out with saline.
Knowledge is power
It’s easy to get caught up in common beliefs about eye health, but now that you know the facts, you can take better care of your eyes.
Remember, if you ever have questions about your vision, the best source of advice is your optometrist—not old myths.
You can use our Find an Optometrist search tool to locate your nearest optometrist and book an appointment today.
