Eye Site Myth Busters
By Dr. Gary Goberville
How many times do you hear a “saying” that you believe is true because it’s been told for centuries? Lets’ see if there is actually any truth to them or if they are just Wives’ Tales.
The first saying on my list, and I am sure we’ve all heard this a thousand times over, “Don’t read in the dark, it will ruin your vision.” True or False? Actually, when you read in the dark it is much more difficult to see because your cones (or fine vision), works on color, which is almost absent in the dark, but this will not make your prescription get worse over time. The answer is false. Reading in the dark doesn’t make your prescription get worse.
Second, “Eat more carrots, it will help your vision”. True or False? Beta-carotene lasts in your body for a long time. Large amounts of carrots don’t improve your vision at all. The answer is false; carrots do not improve your vision. Special vitamins that contain licopene, zalathin, and other anti oxidants can improve your vision. These antioxidants do help patients with macular degeneration changes. Take your antioxidant vitamins, and eat your carrots, for a healthier you.
Third on our list, “Television and computers can make your prescription worse.” Using your eyes will not wear them out, nor will they change the shape of your eye and subsequently will not make your prescription worse. This Wives’ Tales is also false. Interestingly enough, certain video games can improve children’s eye hand coordination.
Our fourth tale, “Everyone after the age of 40 starts to lose their ability to focus up close or read small print. True or False? Sorry, this statement is true. Unfortunately, everyone around the age of 40 experiences loss in their ability to focus up close. It is not true that they’re making the newspaper print smaller these days and the light bulbs are not as bright as they use to be. It’s all a result of presbyopia, otherwise known as the “Birthday Disease”.
Statement number five. “Using artificial sweeteners will make your eyes light sensitive.” Oddly enough, the answer is true.There are other medications that can also do this such as antibiotics, oral contraceptives, hypertension medications, diuretic and antidiabetic medications. Read your medicine bottles well for adverse side effects.
Some myths were busted today and some myths will live on so that we can tell our grandchildren how to keep their eyes healthy.
Dr. Gary Goberville,, Optometric Physician
Eye Site Vision Center
2344 N. University Dr.
Coral?Springs
354-344-3937