THE FACTS ABOUT EYE MYTHS (PART 2!)

In case you missed our earlier blog post, we compiled things we hear that are just not true and cleared up the facts. Be sure to check out that post here for Myths #1-4. But back by popular demand, we have more myths to clear up for you! It’s all too often that we hear these things either out and about or from our patients, and we’re happy to set the records straight and clear up those misunderstandings. So without further adieu, on to the myths!

MYTH #5: Eye exams are only necessary when you have an eye problem.

Fact #5: Just like your annual physical, annual eye exams are recommended for everyone to check on eye health as well as glasses prescription.

This is on the top of the myth list for our doctors! We start to cringe when a patient tells us that they haven’t been to the eye doctor in 10+ years because they have good vision. Maybe you do have good vision, and in that case, congrats! However, we evaluate more than just your vision at your annual eye exam. We want to make sure the health of your eyes is in tip top shape as well. There are things we can pinpoint before they become a problem, like maybe your visual habits or give you tips for all that computer usage. We can sometimes also spot diabetes, high blood pressure changes, and other systemic problems before your primary care can in order to get you treated before issues arise. So even if you do have great vision, be sure to get your eyes checked annually by an optometrist to ensure that your whole body is in great health! One of our favorite bible verses sums this up perfectly… “The eyes are the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.” Matthew 6:22 NIV

MYTH #6: When you close your eyes, your eyes roll to the back of your head.

Fact #6: The eyes of a white shark will roll backwards when they are in hunting mode and actively attacking prey. Humans eyes do not.

When white sharks attack, their eyes roll upwards as a protective mechanism because sharks do not have eyelids. In all seriousness though, your eyes do move slightly upward when your eyelids close. It is also a protective feature of our eyes to protect the front surface of the eye, or the cornea from damage. This is called Bell’s Phenomenon, and is completely normal. However, your eyes certainly do not roll all the way backwards like you may have been told or imagining. Mainly because we are blessed with eyelids that do most of the protecting for us.

MYTH #7: IF YOUR PARENTS HAVE BROWN EYES, YOU CANNOT HAVE BLUE EYES.

FACT #7: IF BOTH PARENTS HAVE BROWN EYES, THERE IS A CHANCE OF HAVING BLUE-EYED CHILDREN.

Blue eye color is a recessive gene. Remember back to your biology class days… I know it may have been awhile ago, so I have a handy chart here to remind you of all the possible eye color options based on both parents eye colors. Pretty neat, huh?!

MYTH #8: IF YOU CROSS YOUR EYES, IT WILL STAY THAT WAY.

FACT #8: IF YOU CROSS YOUR EYES, NO LONG TERM DAMAGE WILL OCCUR.

Simply put, this one is totally false! Nothing will happen if you cross your eyes, other than maybe blurriness or dryness for a second. Your eye muscles are some of the hardest working in the body. They are quite remarkable and can get a full workout in by moving around to function and see all day long. A quick cross of the eyes is not going to even affect them!

MYTH #9: SITTING TOO CLOSE TO THE TV CAN DAMAGE YOUR EYES.

FACT #9: SITTING CLOSE TO THE TV MAY CAUSE EYESTRAIN.

By sitting close to the tv, you certainly won’t damage your eyes! Some people can get eyestrain or fatigue from too much near work though, so you may not be immune to the occasional dryness or eyestrain that excessive near work will cause. Children’s eyes can focus better on near tasks before eyestrain sits in. Therefore, it is common to see children sitting too close to the tv without realizing or holding an iPad or book too close to read. We try to educate kids (and parents!) on good working distance on all near work from the start so they don’t develop these habits that may cause eyestrain in the future. But all in all, sitting too close to the tv will not permanently damage your eyes. Sorry, mom! This is a myth.

Well, there you have it, we hope we cleared up some more myths for you and helped you to see the facts! We love hearing from you some of the things you’ve heard and always wondered if they were true. Comment below or use the contact us page to message us with those burning questions! Maybe, just maybe, there will be a Part 3 of The Facts About Eye Myths to come!