In this modern digital age, we are constantly being pelted with information left and right about every subject under the sun. And if we go looking for information about something specific, this is increased tenfold.
With information coming in from every direction - friends, family, social media and other media sources, it’s easy to get distracted and caught up in the influx. But when it comes to taking care of your eyes, it’s best to approach the information that you receive with a bit of skepticism. After all, you only get one set of eyes!
With how much information and misinformation is out there about how to best care for your eyes, it’s hard to discern fact from fiction. How can you determine what’s real and what’s not? If you’re feeling a bit stuck and not sure where to get started in discerning eye care fact from fiction, we’re here to help.
5 Common Myths Regarding Prescription Glasses
We’ve put together a quick list of five common myths and misconceptions about eye care and an easy explanation why each isn’t as true as we’d like to believe. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Wearing Prescription Glasses Will Make Your Eyes Worse
Let’s start off our list with one of the most common eye care myths out there - wearing prescription eyeglasses will actually make your eyesight worse.
The idea for this myth is born from the thought that wearing prescription lenses will make your eyes dependent on them. This will then, in turn, lead to worsening eyesight as your eyes get used to the lenses and adapt to fit them.
The truth is completely different - wearing designer prescription eyeglasses won’t make your eyesight worse, but will rather provide you with clear vision. If you remove your eyeglasses and see that everything appears blurrier, that means that they’re working.
According to the Washington University School of Medicine, “This is due to the brain getting used to that clear image, not your vision getting worse. Wearing the correct eyeglasses can also help minimize eye strain.”
2. Reading in Dim Light Can Damage Your Eyes
Many adults can probably recall getting a scolding when they were younger from a parent, grandparent or other family member about the dangers of reading in dim or dark light. Previous generations believed that reading in dim light can cause irreversible damage to your eyes, leading to worsening vision and other eye issues.
However, the truth is a bit less intense - reading in dim light can cause eye strain and resulting symptoms, but it won’t actually cause damage to your eyes. As the American Academy of Ophthalmology states, “It does not harm your eyes to read in dim light. But good lighting can make it easier to see what you are reading and keep your eyes from tiring out more quickly.”
3. You Can ‘Train’ Your Eyes to Not Need Glasses
Another common myth that has been popping up on social media in the last several years is the concept that you can ‘train’ away bad eyesight through the use of specific exercises. This idea stems from the thought that because eyes contain muscles, you can train away bad prescriptions by strengthening the muscles in the eyes.
But the unfortunate truth is that it’s not possible to train your eyes to not need glasses anymore - there are just too many factors that go into eyesight in addition to the idea of the muscles within the eyes.
As Washington University School of Medicine states, “The need for eyeglasses is dependent on many factors. The shape of the front of the eye, the length of the eyeball, developing cataracts or astigmatism, eye diseases, and eye surgeries – are just a few of the things that factor into your need for prescription glasses.”
4. Wearing a Prescription That’s Too Strong Will Make Your Eyesight Worse
This common myth may seem super straightforward, but the truth of the matter is that wearing a prescription that’s too strong won’t actually ruin your eyesight.
When you wear designer prescription eyeglasses in a stronger (or weaker!) prescription than you actually need, you can cause significant eye strain with symptoms such as headaches, nausea and blurry vision. While uncomfortable, these won’t cause long-lasting damage to your eyes or make your eyesight worse.
As stated by the Optometrist Network, “Having a prescription that is too strong, too weak or otherwise wrong for you can cause headaches, nausea and eyestrain, but it cannot do long-term damage to your vision and eye health.” In other words, having a too strong prescription isn’t the best idea but it also won’t ruin your vision or eye health.
5. All Prescription Eyeglasses Are the Same
The final myth on our list is one that has come up in recent years as less expensive prescription eyeglasses from online boutiques and international retailers have become increasingly popular from an affordability perspective. Many of these cheaper retailers operate on the idea that all prescription eyeglasses are the same as long as they have the right prescription.
Contrary to this myth, the truth of the matter is that the quality of your frames and lenses can make a huge difference. When you purchase inexpensive lenses and frames online, you run the risk of getting poor quality pieces that aren’t tailored to your unique needs and won’t fit well on your face. On the other hand, when you buy from established designer prescription eyeglasses retailers such as Azimuth Eyewear, you can rest assured that you’ll receive high-quality frames with premium materials and pristine lenses that will help you see the world around you with true clarity.
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While there are so many things that we may hear from friends, family, social media and the like about how to take care of our eyes, the truth of the matter is that not everything we hear is, well, true.
Always remember to take everything that you hear about eye health and eye care that doesn’t come from a medical professional with a heavy grain of salt. And if you’re not sure about something, don’t be afraid to reach out and discuss your questions with your ophthalmologist. They’ll be able to help point you in the right direction!