Someone told me….

You may have heard all sorts of things about what is good and bad for your eyes…

But are they true?

Here we present you with the facts about these 20 common eye myths:

Basic Biology

Myth 1. All babies are born with blue eyes.

When babies are born, their eyes may sometimes appear blue while their melanin is still developing. Within about 12 months, cells begin to produce melanin. As more melanin builds up in the iris, eye colour may darken. 

Myth 2. Babies are born with their eyes fully grown.

Generally, babies are born with eyes that are approximately two-thirds of their full adult size. Eyes continue to grow after birth, usually during two phases: 1) the first few years of life, and 2) puberty.

Myth 3. Two brown-eyed parents can’t have a blue-eyed child.

The truth is, you can’t predict a child’s eye colours from the parents’ eye colours at all. Current research suggests that as many as 16 different genes could be responsible for eye colour. That’s why two parents with the same eye colour can have a child with entirely different eye colours.

Vision Improvement

Myth 4. Eating carrots will improve your vision.

Vitamin A is essential for the body to maintain healthy eyesight and carrots have high amounts of this nutrient. But the body only needs a relatively small amount of vitamin A for vision, and it can be obtained through many sources such as dark, leafy greens, brightly coloured vegetables, dairy, and fish. While eating foods rich in vitamin A can help you maintain good eyesight, it won’t improve your vision or keep you from needing glasses or contacts. Remember to eat vitamin A-rich foods and fat to absorb the benefits better. Having said that, if you tell your kids this is true as a means of getting them to eat their veg, we’ll 100% back you up 😉

Myth 5. You can improve your vision with eye exercises.

Eye exercises will not improve or preserve vision or reduce the need for glasses. Your vision depends on many factors, none of which can be significantly altered with eye exercises.

However, eye exercises may be helpful for convergence insufficiency, a condition that occurs when the eyes don’t work together to focus on a nearby object, making it difficult to read.

Myth 6. Sun gazing—or, looking directly at the sun—can improve your health and well-being.

Staring at the sun for even a short time without wearing the right eye protection can permanently damage your retina and cause blindness. Ordinary sunglasses and homemade filters are not safe for looking at the sun. The only safe way to look directly at the sun is through special-purpose solar filters that meet the CSN EN ISO 12312-2 standard.

Vision Impairment

Myth 7. If you cross your eyes, they’ll stay that way.

Your eye muscles allow you to move your eyes in all directions. Looking left or right, up or down, won’t force them to remain in those positions, just as crossing the eyes won’t force them to stay that way. Crossed eyes may result from disease, uncorrected vision, or from muscle or nerve damage.

Myth 8. Only boys can be colour blind.

Women can develop or inherit colour blindness, but men are at much higher risk. An estimated 1 in 12 males have some form of colour deficiency. Most colour blind individuals are born with a partial or complete lack of cones in the retina, which help distinguish the colours red, green and blue. Less frequently, colour vision problems can occur later in life as the result of disease, trauma, or toxic effects from drugs that damage the retina or optic nerve.

Myth 9. People who are colour blind see in black and white.

Most people who are colour blind see partial colour. The most severe form of colour blindness, in which everything is seen in shades of grey, is uncommon. Most people with colour blindness have difficulty distinguishing between greens and reds.

Myth 10. Sitting very close to the TV can damage your eyes.

While sitting very close to the television may cause eye strain or give you a headache, it will not damage vision in children or adults. However, habitually sitting close to the television may signal that the person is nearsighted and, in fact, needs glasses. Children have a heightened ability to focus on nearby objects, so they might find it more comfortable to sit close to the TV.

Myth 11. Reading in dim light is harmful to your eyes.

It does not harm your eyes to read in dim light. But good lighting can make it easier to see what you are reading and keep your eyes from tiring out more quickly.

Myth 12. Using computers can damage your eyes.

Looking at a computer screen will not harm your eyes, but doing so without breaks can contribute to eye strain, tired eyes, or dry eyes. Be sure to rest your eyes every 20 minutes by looking up or across the room. Blink regularly to keep your eyes well lubricated and use artificial tears to promote moisture.

Myth 13. People who wear glasses will ruin their eyes if they read the fine print or do a lot of close-up work.

Reading and detail work do not wear out the eyes. But they can strain your eyes, making them tired. Taking periodic rests by gazing into the distance or looking up can help provide relief.

Myth 14. Wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses will make you dependent on them.

Using your glasses won’t worsen your vision or lead to any eye disease. If you need glasses for distance or reading, it is important to use them to avoid straining your eyes and to ensure your best vision possible.  

Myth 15. Wearing the wrong eyeglasses will hurt your eyes.

Wearing glasses with the incorrect prescription will not damage your eyes, but it may strain them, cause achiness or blurriness, or give you a headache. This should go away when you take the glasses off.

Myth 16. I can see fine, I don’t need an eye test

Eye tests are more than just about the health of your eye. An eye test can also lead to early detection of various health issues that may be affecting you such asAneurysm, brain tumour, cancers of blood, tissue or skin, diabetes, iant cell arteritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lupus, Lyme disease, medication toxicities, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, sexually transmitted diseases, sickle cell disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, stroke, thyroid disease, vascular disease, Vitamin A deficiency

Myth 17. Losing vision is an inevitable part of ageing.

Many vision problems that develop as people age can be treated. Presbyopia, which is near-vision loss, and cataracts can both be remedied to allow adults to see clearly again. It is recommended that most people should get their eyes tested every 2 years to catch both reversible and permanent threats to vision, such as glaucoma or macular degeneration. Oftentimes, early treatment can slow or prevent vision loss.

Myth 18. A cataract must be ‘ripe’ before it is removed.

A cataract can be removed as soon as it compromises your vision. Thanks to modern advances in cataract surgery, the lens can now be removed from the eye as soon as it’s cloudy enough to make reading fine print or street signs difficult.

Myth 19. Eyes can be transplanted.

It is not possible today to transplant a whole eye because this complex organ is connected to your brain by the optic nerve. The optic nerve is made up of more than 1 million tiny nerve fibres. Once these nerve fibres are cut, they cannot be reconnected. However, ophthalmologists can transplant the cornea, which is the clear front part of your eye.

Vision Professionals

Myth 20. All eye doctors are the same.

Ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians each play an important role in eye care. But their levels of training and expertise are quite different from each other.

Ophthalmologists (eye surgeons) are doctors that specialise in the medical and surgical care of the eyes and visual system. They also look into the prevention of eye disease and injury. An ophthalmologist treats people of all ages, from premature babies to the elderly. Conditions dealt with in ophthalmology can include eye trauma, cataracts, diabetic eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, as well as congenital and genetic eye problems.

An optometrist is trained to recognise abnormalities in your eyes. They examine the internal and external structure of your eyes to detect conditions such as glaucomamacular degeneration and cataracts. They may also test your ability to focus and coordinate your eyes and see depth and colours accurately. If necessary, the optometrist will refer you to your GP or a hospital eye clinic for further investigations. Optometrists can prescribe and fit glasses, contact lenses and low vision aids, and, if trained to do so, medicines to treat eye conditions.

Dispensing opticians fit glasses and contact lenses working from the prescriptions written by an ophthalmic practitioner or ophthalmologist. They also fit and dispense low vision aids such as magnifying glasses or telescopic spectacles. They do not do eye tests. A dispensing optician can give you advice on types of lenses and help you to choose frames and other optical aids. They can also give you advice about wearing and caring for your glasses or contact lenses.

Kids glasses……childs play

What You Must Know Before Buying Kids Glasses

There are glasses for all occasions, ranging from the easygoing casual setting of a pub to the formal and professional vibes of an office. Also, people in all age brackets need glasses – both for their function and style.

Glasses For Kids: Making Growing Up More Fun!

You might be annoyed with your child’s constant resistance when it comes to wearing glasses. But what if we told you that glasses can bring similar joy to your child as brought about by toys. It all comes down to getting some basic considerations right when choosing glasses for kids.

Here is a guide to buying kids’ glasses. If you take these things into account, you will arrive at pairs that will certainly bring a smile to your child’s face.

Function: Why Glasses For Your Child?

The reason why you are buying glasses is the most significant aspect that you need to be clear about before proceeding with the purchase.

If your child requires an eyesight correction, you will be looking for glasses with a prescription. In such a case, you need to be assured of your child’s exact prescription. This is where the role of an eye test becomes crucial. The perception that children don’t have to undergo regular eye exams is wrong. Sticking to the practice of annual eye tests for children can go a long way in detecting many underlying health conditions at their initial stage.

If you are looking for glasses that can serve as a safety gear for your child’s eyes as they go about their regular playful act, the choice of material and the fit is something that you cannot overlook.

If you are concerned about your child’s increasing screen time, but then digital screens are something that is not completely avoidable, a blue light protective coating on the lenses is where your search ends.

The function of glasses is also going to impact the other considerations that you need to be making. That’s exactly the reason why it is so crucial.

Comfort: Something That Your Child Deserves The Most

Arguably, the dominant reason why most kids resist glasses is poor comfort. And many parents fail to make this out as children are not aware enough to point out this exact problem. So how do you look for a pair that your child will resist taking off?

A measurement that contributes to making glasses comfortable is the pupillary distance (PD), which is used to locate the optical centre in the lenses. To ensure that your child has the best viewing experience through their glasses, the frames and lenses of their glasses need to align with the optical centre of the eyes, this measurement will be taken by our optometrist at your child’s appointment

We just can’t miss out on material when the talk is about comfort. Anything heavy on the face will not go down well with kids. Hence, you need to be looking for lightweight options. This is the reason why plastic frames are more suited for kids’ glasses than metal frames. Even among various types of plastic, you will need to pick lightweight options.

Children have sensitive skin, especially the area surrounding the eyes. If your child is allergic to any material, hypoallergenic materials are what you should opt for.

The other important aspect responsible for imparting comfort to your glasses is their fit, which we will discuss next.

 

Fit: Getting It Right

Children are playful and mischievous, and that’s how they are supposed to be. You need a pair of spectacles for your child that are a perfect companion in all their fun and not a hindrance.

You will not want the glasses to fall off when your child is spending quality time in the playground as this will hinder both their vision and safety. To be effective, glasses need to fit well.

When it comes to material, it needs to be noted that glasses made of flexible materials are the ones that fit well as they rest properly on our faces by naturally adjusting to our face shapes.

Two major areas where glasses hold onto your face are the nose and ears. Talking about the nose portion, you need to know that the nose bridge of children is not fully developed. Hence, it is important that you get the bridge fit right as per your child’s requirements so that the pairs do not slip off the nose.

The temples of glasses rest on the ears. Children make a lot of dynamic movements and that’s the reason why you find kids’ glasses with custom temples. You have the option of temples that wrap all the way around the ears. Some pairs come with retainers attached to the temples. Temples with spring hinges are very effective in enhancing the fit of glasses.

Durability: Long-lasting Friend

Well, if you want your child’s glasses to last for a long time, durable materials are what you should choose. For both frames and lenses, materials that have high strength and good impact resistance can do wonders in providing enhanced durability.

Glasses that fit you well are also the ones that are more durable as they rest properly on your faces, reducing the risk of impact.

Style: Matching Your Child’s Definition

If you think that your child is least concerned about style, you are probably wrong. In fact, kids are more choosy when it comes to what attracts them.

Glasses that match the playful vibes of childhood are child-like ones. This is what you can achieve by opting for shapes and colours that are lively and radiate fun and positivity. Do pick a pair that subscribes to your child’s idea of style.

We have provided you with a comprehensive guide on buying glasses for your child. Follow these tips to purchase a pair of glasses for your kids that they will always love to put on.

We accept NHS Vouchers for kids & our Kids Clinic operates regularly based on demand, get in touch to find out when the next one is on.

 

As well as carrying many of the Worlds leading brands – Ray-Ban, Persol, Prada, Prada Linea Rossa, Michael Kors, Emporio Armani, Oakley, & Polo Ralph Lauren sunglasses & glasses, we also carry mid price frames – Ralph by Ralph Lauren, Vogue & New Balance, and our budget brands – Visage & Matrix ALL at discounted prices to suit all budgets.

Studio 1018,
Abbey Mill Business Centre,
12 Seedhill Rd,
Paisley
PA1 1JS

07912866792
info@spexappealscotland.co.uk