Our vision does so much for us, allowing us to navigate the world with
confidence, perform at our best, and connect with the people and beautiful
things around us.
That’s why looking after our sight is so important. But like with any area
of our health, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions about what’s
really best for our eyesight, and what could harm it.
We talked to Elizabeth Kodari, an optometrist at OPSM, to untangle myth
from fact.
Myth 1: Wearing glasses or contacts will weaken your eyes
There’s a common misconception that wearing corrective lenses too much will
make your eyes dependent on them.
“Wearing glasses or contact lenses does not weaken our eyes,” Kodari says.
“When we wear glasses, our eye muscles can relax and work naturally.”
Eyesight often gets worse with age, which is why some people mistakenly think glasses are making their eyes
weaker – but Kodari emphasises that lenses are not the cause.
Some people also notice that their vision seems blurrier than usual right
after removing their glasses or contacts. Kodari says this is not a sign of
vision worsening, just our eyes readjusting.
“As glasses and contact lenses both work to correct our vision, when they
are removed our eyes need to readjust and regain focus,” she says. “This
can cause the contrasting blurriness to appear more noticeable.”
Myth 2: Eating carrots improves your vision
“From a young age we are often told that the more carrots we eat, the
better our eyesight,” Kodari says. “However, this is not entirely true.”
There is some good advice in this myth. Carrots are a natural source of
vitamin A, which does help support healthy eyes, Kodari explains – but
they’re not a magic vision food.1
For good eye health, experts suggest focusing on a healthy, balanced diet, rich in nutrients
such as:
-
Vitamins A, C and E
(found in lots of colourful fruits and vegetables)
-
Lutein and zeaxanthin
(found particularly in leafy greens)
- Omega-3 fatty acids
(found in foods like fish, nuts and seeds and avocado)1
Myth 3: Eye exercises will stop me from needing glasses
Doing eye exercises – like focusing on objects at different distances – can
help
reduce eye strain and digital fatigue, but there is no evidence they can actually improve
your vision, Kodari says.2
“We are unable to reverse the effects of ageing on our eye’s natural lens
or change the shape of our eyeball to stop us from needing glasses,” she
explains.
“However, it is a good idea to exercise your eyes to improve their comfort.
"When using digital devices, every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break from
your screen and focus on an object far away to help your eyes relax and
adjust focus.”
Myth 4: 20/20 means perfect vision
In Australia, we use the term 6/6 rather than 20/20, as the numbers refer
to distance (six metres versus 20 feet).3 This is a measure of
visual acuity, or how clear your vision is, based on a standard letter
chart.
“6/6 is considered ‘normal’ or ‘ideal’ distance vision – it’s what the
average person can see from six metres away,” Kodari explains.
“The goal of
glasses or contacts is usually to bring people’s eyesight as close to this
as possible.”
That means many people do have better than 6/6 vision.3 “It’s
also possible to have 6/6 vision and still need glasses – for example, you
could have ideal distance vision but need reading glasses for near vision.”
Myth 5: It’s a waste of money to get glasses from the optometrist
It might be cheaper and easier to grab a pair of over-the-counter reading
glasses from the chemist or online, but experts recommend seeing an
optometrist to make sure you have the correct prescription.4
“One size does not fit all when it comes to your vision,” Kodari says. “Not
wearing the correct prescription can have a significant impact on your
daily lifestyle.
"For example, if your reading glasses are too strong, this
may cause headaches and eyestrain.”
An optometrist will also consider factors like the position of your eyes,
the distance between your pupils and the fit of the frames, which can also
impact your vision and eye comfort.
If you have
extras cover that includes optical, you can get benefits back on prescription glasses and contacts, helping
you manage the costs.
Plus, your optometrist will check your eye health as well as your vision –
which is particularly important as you get older.5
Myth 6: I can see fine – I don’t need to have eye checks
Even if you’ve never had any vision problems before, experts say it’s
important to have regular eye checks.6
“We recommend seeing an optometrist every two years, even if you do not
have any symptoms,” Kodari says.
This is especially important if you’re over 40, have a family history of
eye conditions, or if you have diabetes.6
“Eye conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration – two of the
leading causes of blindness – may develop without any symptoms,
particularly in their early stages.
“Detecting these conditions early gives you the best chance of preventing
vision loss.”5
Take a look at HBF optical cover
See clearly and look great. With HBF extras, you can get 100% back on prescription glasses and contacts, up to your annual limit.
Find out more
Sources:
1What’s cooking good looking –
Good Vision for Life (Optometry Australia) (2020)
2Vision training not proven to make vision sharper –
American Academy of Ophthalmology (2017)
3Can you have better than 20/20 vision? –
Good Vision for Life (Optometry Australia) (2021)
4 Is it okay to buy glasses from the chemist or service station? –
Good Vision for Life (Optometry Australia) (2021)
5The ageing eye conditions you need to know about –
Centre for Eye Research Australia (2020)
6Booking an eye test –
Vision Initiative
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Disclaimer:
This article contains general information only and does not take into account the health, personal situation or needs of any person. In conjunction with your GP or treating health care professional, please consider whether the information is suitable for you and your personal circumstances.