People have a lot of myths when it comes to health. For example, the habit of cracking your knuckles can cause arthritis as you get old, or cholesterol is terrible for your health. Of course, eye health is in this collection of myths your eye clinic in Singapore finds hilarious. For example, eating carrots will give you night vision. Perhaps, only Bugs Bunny can prove or debunk that.

This article will shed light on the myths and misconceptions surrounding your eye health.

5 Myths And Misconceptions Surrounding Your Eye Health

Sight is one of the five human senses; the organs responsible for this are our eyes. Human eyes can see and register around a million colours. However, we are not the best in the animal kingdom (considering humans are mammals). The eagle’s visual acuity among all creatures, while owls have the best night vision.

Once in your life, you probably have believed in one of many eyesight myths to achieve supernatural vision prowess. Unfortunately, only an eye specialist in Singapore can assess whether or not you can have beyond extraordinary vision.

Here are the common myths and misconceptions surrounding eye health:

MYTH #1: The only body parts that remain the same in size from birth to death are the eyes.

Perhaps, the most intimate part between a mother and her child is seeing the newborn open their eyes for the first time. Some say that babies get fully grown eyes. Meaning the size of their eyes when they are born will remain the same as they grow old.

Truth

Baby’s eyes grow in size! But where did this myth come from? The growth is not really drastic compared to how a person’s limbs, feet, and other body parts grow. The difference between the dimension of a baby’s eyeballs and adults is one to five millimetres.

Babies typically have 16-millimetre eyeballs, whilst adults have 24 millimetres. They grow heavier as well. The growth stops when the person reaches the age of 20.

You can visit an eye specialist clinic in Singapore to learn more about your eye growth!

MYTH #2: Eating carrots improves your vision.

No, we don’t need Bugs Bunny to prove this myth. Carrots are packed with vitamin A. You can also find vitamin A in tomatoes, leafy green vegetables, and eggs.

But what’s with vitamin A? There are two types of vitamin A: retinoids and beta-carotene. Vitamin A helps produce rhodopsin. Rhodopsin is a light-sensitive receptor protein that makes the eyes see in low light. A person that lacks rhodopsin may have trouble seeing at night.

Moreover, vitamin A also helps produce lubricant and maintain eye moisture, preventing dry eyes.

          Truth

The million-dollar question is: does vitamin A improve vision? The answer is no. However, vitamin A MAINTAINS good eyesight. If you are already suffering from myopia and hyperopia, eating carrots and other vitamin A-rich vegetables will not improve your vision but will prevent it from worsening.

The best time to snack on carrots is when your eyesight is still at 20/20. Your eye specialist in Singaporemay still suggest eating carrots for their other health benefits.

MYTH #3: Reading in low-light conditions damages your eyesight.

Many superstitious parents refrain their children from reading their books at night due to this myth. On the other hand, open-minded parents buy their kids a lamp to aid their reading at night.

If reading in low-light conditions does damage the eyes, do people from centuries ago have bad eyesight? After all, their source of illumination at night is candles, gas lamps, or the moon.

Truth

Reading in low-light conditions does not cause vision loss but triggers eye strain. Eye strain is an eye discomfort due to reading in dim light, prolonged staring at digital device screens, and being exposed to bright light.

A person with eye strain may feel their eyes sore, tired, and burning. They may also have watery or dry eyes. They experience headaches and light sensitivity.

Although reading in dim light does not ruin vision, you might as well refrain from it to avoid eye strain. Visit your eye specialist clinic in Singapore for more information about eye strain.

 

MYTH #4: Prescription glasses and contact lenses can fix or harm your eyesight.

People think prescription glasses and contact lenses can improve your eyesight, whether you have myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism.

Prescription glasses and contact lenses can also worsen or harm your eyesight as wearing them encourages your eyes to be dependent on them.

Truth

Prescription glasses will not improve your myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism or bring it back to a 20/20 eyesight. They are an instrument that provides the wearer with a sharp, clear vision. Once they take off their glasses, their poor eyesight remains the same.

Prescription glasses and contact lenses cannot make your eyes dependent on them. It is you who become dependent. It is just you become used to the sharp, clear vision your glasses provide.

Remember, only a professional eye specialist in Singapore can prescribe you corrective glasses and lenses.

MYTH #5: Colour blindness is only for boys

Colour blindness is a condition where people can’t distinguish certain colours, such as red, green, and blue correctly. It happens when the cones in our eyes don’t work properly.

 There are three cones that detect the colours red, green and blue behind our retinas. In colour blindness, one or more of these cones have defects or are absent.

Many people believe that colour blindness only affects boys.

Truth

Colour blindness is acquired through genetic disposition. There is a high chance of getting this condition when you have a family history, regardless of sex.

You can also get colour blindness later in life due to diseases that affect the optic nerves. Again, these diseases do not choose the sex of their victims.

Colour blindness can affect males and females. If you think you have this condition, visit your eye clinic in Singapore.

Conclusion

Do not bat an eye at these myths and misconceptions. Keep an eye out for the bad habits that damage your eyes, such as not wearing goggles when working with your woodcraft, rubbing your eyes, and wearing cheap and fake contact lenses.

Nova Eye Centre

Get your eye checked by aneye specialist in Singapore at Nova Eye Centre. Visit Nova Eye Centre today.