See through the myths for healthy eyes

EVERYTHINGWritten by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of Medicine
Ever try to convince a child that if she eats her carrots or spinach she’ll never have to wear glasses? Truth be told, these veggies are high in Vitamin A, which is essential for healthy vision, but only a small amount is necessary for good vision.

Some other myths related to eyes:
Myth: Sitting too close to an electronic device or for too long can damage your eyes.
Fact: Children often hold their tablets or reading material closer to their face because they are able to focus on close object better than adults. As they grow, their eyesight changes, and they usually end the up-close-and-personal habit. Regular eye exams can check for myopia (nearsightedness) in children to be sure their eyes are developing properly.

Myth: Reading in low light will damage your eyesight.
Fact: It’s not the ideal circumstance for reading your newest bestseller, but dim light will cause eye fatigue rather than eye damage.

Myth: Not wearing proper prescription glasses will damage your eyes.
Fact: Some eye problems in children can be corrected with proper glasses. However, for most people using your eyes with or without glasses, even stronger than necessary glasses, will not cause further eye damage – but it might give you a headache.
Information from preventblindness.org
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