12 Common Misconceptions About Eye Health

Maintaining good vision throughout your entire life is possible if you make sure to take proper care of your eyes. This includes protecting them from damage, avoiding habits that harm your eyes, and staying healthy overall. Still, when it comes to the right way to maintain one’s eyesight, things can sometimes get confusing. For example, many people think that squinting or watching TV from a close distance is harmful, and also that rubbing your eyes and overwashing them is fine.

All four of those examples are common misconceptions about eye health - misconceptions that we will clarify in this article. So, if you want to educate yourself about eye health and 12 popular myths about eyes, continue reading.

1. Rubbing your eyes isn’t harmful as long as it doesn’t hurt
If you have the habit of rubbing your eyes when they get tired, or you rub your eyes a lot due to allergies and think it's fine as long as your eyes aren't particularly red or painful afterward, consider this:
Rubbing your eyes frequently can cause thinning of the cornea, which, in turn, may lead to a condition called keratoconus, a common cause of vision loss. The cornea in people suffering from this condition becomes distorted and bulges out in a cone-like shape, which is what causes early symptoms like blurry and double vision, light sensitivity, and nearsightedness.

2. Reading in dim light will affect your eyesight
Many people think that reading in a dimly lit room can worsen your vision, but there is no evidence of that. Doctors assure that the only symptom of reading under poor light conditions is eye fatigue. With age, we do tend to require more light in order to read because our retinas become weaker, but those are age-related changes and not something brought about by a darker than usual reading environment.

3. Carrots are the best food to eat for good eyesight
Beta carotene is the component in carrots that helps maintain good eyesight because it's converted into vitamin A in our body, which is crucial for eyesight. Interestingly, beta carotene is also the chemical that makes carrots orange. However, carrots are by far not the only vegetable that contains a lot of this very useful antioxidant: spinach, kale, red, orange, and yellow peppers, and even sweet potatoes also contain plenty of beta carotene.
What's more, any other food high in vitamin A, even animal-derived foods like cheese, milk, egg yolks, and liver will have the same benefits for your eyesight, too.

4. Rinsing eyes with water is the best way to relieve dry and itchy eyes
If you're suffering from dry and itchy eyes, be it due to allergies, eye strain, or any other reason, it's important not to resort to rinsing your eyes with water to soothe the uncomfortable symptoms. This is because tap water is full of bacteria and other potentially harmful microorganisms that are typically killed by your digestive juices when you ingest the water.
Unfortunately, your eyes aren't equipped to deal with these germs, so you're risking to introduce an eye infection by rinsing your eyes with lots of water all the time. Instead, doctors recommend artificial tears, which are eye drops specifically manufactured to lubricate dry eyes.

5. Reading a book from up close is easier on the eyes
Bringing a book, laptop, or smartphone closer to see better and read easier is a dire mistake. In fact, this kind of near work increases nearsightedness (myopia), especially in kids. Myopia, in turn, is a known risk factor for many other eye conditions, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts. So, instead of bringing that book or device closer, do the opposite and keep them as far away from your eyes as possible.

6. Putting on eye makeup is safe for your eyes
Eye makeup, such as mascara, eyeliner, and eyeshadow are all manufactured with eye safety in mind, but even the best makeup product should be washed off at the end of the day. The main issue with eye makeup is that, no matter how much you try, it's bound to get into your eyes eventually.
Sometimes, makeup residue can build up in your eyes and clog up the meibomian glands in your eyes, which are tiny oil glands that moisturize the eye and present redness and dryness. So, always wash off your eye makeup as soon as possible and have eye makeup free days from time to time.

7. Laser surgery can get rid of all eye problems
Laser eye surgery is a very popular and effective way to correct one's eyesight, but few people don't know that not everyone is eligible for this procedure. Lasik surgery can correct conditions like myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism, but patients suffering from keratoconus, cataract, glaucoma, and macular degeneration aren't suitable for the surgery.

8. Any dark glasses will protect eyesight from UV damage
UV exposure is just as dangerous, if not more, to your eyes than it is to your skin. The Sun's rays affect the macula, the cornea, and the lens, and sun damage can result in:
    Macular degeneration, one of the leading causes of vision loss
    Cataract
    Pterygium, a growth on the eye that may block vision
    Skin cancer around the eyes
    Photokeratitis, a painful corneal sunburn that causes temporary vision loss.
Contrary to popular belief, not all sunglasses with dark lenses can protect you from UV damage, as it is a special coating that shields your eyes from damage, and not the darkened lenses per se. Even many clear glasses contain a UV filter, while many sunglasses don't. The safest way to protect your eyes is to purchase certified UV glasses, as they are clinically tested and will surely work. 

9. Eye exams are not necessary if you have no complaints
Vision loss is by far not the only diagnosable condition your eye doctor is trained to spot. During a comprehensive eye exam, a doctor will check your overall eye health. As it is with most conditions, early diagnosis is often the key to fast recovery. Apart from that, eyes are sometimes the first organ to show signs of serious health conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes. So, it's best to sign up for a yearly check. 

10. Wearing glasses or contacts with the wrong prescription is not a big deal
Have you ever worn another person's eyeglasses and, all of a sudden, your head started to ache or you started to feel dizzy? Well, guess what? The same feelings, although maybe less intense ones, can happen if you wear the wrong glasses or contact lenses. The main symptoms of wearing the wrong prescription glasses or contacts are increased eye strain, headaches, dizziness, and nausea.

11. Frequent squinting affects your vision
Now, this one is just not true. While frequent squinting to see better can be a symptom of farsightedness or other eye condition, the habit itself doesn't affect your vision in any way. In fact, the worst thing squinting could possibly give you is crow's feet - those small wrinkles around your eyes.

12. Watching TV from up close hurts your vision
Watching a lot of TV, even from up close, is not considered harmful for your eyesight and cannot cause permanent eye damage. Like computer work, prolonged TV screen time can dry out your cornea if you forget to blink and causes eye strain, so get in the habit of taking short breaks from time to time when you're looking at any kind of screen.

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FIVE best foods to stop you from losing your vision

It's long been said that carrots help people to see in the dark.

But the vegetable - and others - actually can have a positive effect on your overall eye health, according to a nutritionist.

An expert has put together a list of the top foods that will help keep your eyes healthy.

In her list, she reveals salmon can stave off a leading cause of blindness, while green tea can protect against UV damage. 

1. Salmon

'Studies have shown that those who follow a Mediterranean style diet that includes oily fish - which are a good source of omega-3 - have a reduced risk of developing macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that results in blurred vision', she said.

Australian researchers found in 2000 a protective effect among those who reported eating more than one serving of fish per week compared with those who consumed less than one serving per month.

Similiarly, a British study in 2008, found that the risk of neovascular age-related macular degeneration - a leading cause of vision loss among people age 50 and older -  was halved in individuals who ate oily fish at least once per week compared with less than once per week. 

Cold water fish such as salmon and tuna are great for keeping your eyes moist and feeling healthy. They contain lots of omega-3 which helps prevent dry eyes, macular degeneration (AMD) and even cataracts.

She said: 'Omega-3 fatty acids provide structural support to cell membranes in the eye. If you don't eat fish, you can get plenty of omega-3 from flaxseeds or diet supplements.'   

2. Avocado

Yes that's right, millennials are on to something. Avocados are packed with the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin and these reduce the amount of damaging light to the eye, therefore reducing the risk of AMD and cataracts, which are common in older adults.

A study found a strong connection between a high level of zeaxanthin and reduced risk of age-related maculopathy - an eye disease with risk factors of high blood pressure, prolonged exposure to the sun and a diet poor in anxtioxidant vitamins and minerals.    

Avocados contain antioxdants lutein and zeaxanthin which reduce the amount of damaging light to the eye Avocados are also rich in vitamin C, which she said is essential for your eye health: 'Nutrients such as vitamin C have been associated with helping to protect and keep your eyes healthy as it may help provide protection against UV damage.' 

Up to 20 per cent of cataracts may be caused by overexposure to UV radiation and are therefore avoidable, according the the WHO.

3. Eggs

No matter how you like your eggs in the morning, they are brilliant at keeping your eyes the best they can be. 

Eggs are a great source of vitamin A which is crucial in maintaining good eye health. 

Vitamin A has shown to be helpful in reducing dry eyes and has benefits in those with certain eye conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa.

Egg yolks also contain zeaxanthin, an antioxidant that can help protect the eyes against damage due to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. 

Egg yolks have the highest amount of the 'eye vitamin' lutein compared with 33 different fruits and vegetables, a Texas study found Eggs also contain lutein, considered the 'eye vitamin'. Scientists from Texas compared the percentage of the vitamin in eggs with 33 different fruits and vegetables - another dietary source.
They found that egg yolk had the highest amounts of lutein. Since eggs have a high cholesterol content, a restricted intake of eggs has been recommended for many years, since cholesterol is a risk factor for coronary artery disease.

However, the researchers of this study suggested the restriction of eggs should be reconsidered.

Furthermore,a research found that the body is able to obtain more health-promoting carotenoids from raw vegetables when cooked whole eggs were also consumed. 

4. Carrots

 Carrots have been proven to keep eyes healthy due to their vitamin A-rich content It turns out there's a lot of truth in the old saying - carrots really do help you to see better. 

As well as being rich in vitamin A, carrots also contain beta carotene which is what gives them their bright orange colour. 

Beta-carotene helps your eyes absorb vitamin A which plays a crucial role in keeping your vision to a high standard.

A lack of vitamin A can lead to xerophthalmia, a condition which causes the eyes to become dry, with swollen eyelids and corneal ulcers.

In a study by Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) sponsored by the National Eye Institute, people with mild or moderate AMD who took a daily multivitamin that included vitamin A (as beta-carotene), vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and copper had a 25 per cent reduced risk of advanced AMD over six years.

Participants in the study who took a zinc supplement reduced their risk of developing advanced AMD by about 21 per cent in comparison.  

Vitamin A can also be found in milk, cheese, egg yolk, liver and sweet potato. 

5. Green tea

Green tea has healthy substances called catechins which are filled with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties Green tea has a number of fantastic health benefits, including boosting brain function and aiding weight loss, but it is also really beneficial to your eyes. 

Green tea has healthy substances called catechins which are filled with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. If you need an excuse to treat yourself, catechins are also found in chocolate and red wine. 

Antioxidants in green tea, like vitamin C, lutein, and zeaxanthin protect against cancer, heart disease and eye disease.

But a particular flavonoid, known as gallocatechin, has had scientific backing for it's support of eye health.

Chinese researchers performed a study on the effect of green tea on the eyes of rats in 2010. The researchers found that the retina, which is the light-sensing tissue that lines the back of the eye, absorbs the most amount of gallocatechin, and the cornea absorbs the least. 

The gallocatechin offered up to 20 hours of protection after drinking green tea.   

Green tea also has the potential to protects our eyes against UV damage, according to a 2007 study. 

Researchers administered different amounts of green tea into cultured human eye cells after exposing them to a UV lamp.

The scientists suggested that those who received the green tea benefited from protection against damage, as their cell activity significantly increased, compared to those who did not receive green tea.

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