6 Surprising Myths About Your Eyes

Did your parents tell you that eating carrots would save you from wearing glasses? Or that sitting too close to the TV is bad for your eyes? Did Mother really know best when it comes to your peepers? Here, we reveal the truth behind these six eye-health myths.

Eating carrots will improve your vision.
False! But don't skip the rabbit food. Although no studies to date show that your eyesight will get sharper just by eating more carrots, the root veggies do contain vitamin A, a nutrient your eyes need to function properly. Be sure to eat a varied diet with lots of different fruits, vegetables, and nuts for vitamins C and E, beta carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and zinc. All these nutrients can help ward off age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

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Working on a computer is bad for your eyes.
False! Computer eyestrain has less to do with computers and more to do with the way you work on them. Most of us forget to blink and take breaks as often as we should while working or reading, so all that time spent staring at the screen can make eyes tired and dry. It might even give you a headache. But it won't damage your eyes.

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Sitting too close to the TV is bad for your eyes.
False! Just like when you stare at your computer screen too long, you might get a headache from sitting too close to your TV. But there's no proof that the close distance is damaging. Still, needing to sit closer to the TV might be a sign of nearsightedness, so you might need to have your vision checked.

Reading in dim light damages your eyes.
False! Sorry, Mom was wrong again. Reading or doing crossword puzzles in lower light

won't hurt your eyes, but it can to tire them out. That's the extent of the damage.

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Wear glasses or contacts will make your vision worse because your eyes will become dependent on them.
False! Wearing glasses or contact lenses doesn't weaken your eyesight. Aging, injury, disease, or genetic factors can make vision worse -- not using vision correction.

Wearing the wrong eyeglasses is bad for your eyes.
False! Wearing the wrong prescription (like someone else's glasses) or not wearing glasses at all won't harm your eyes. But only wearing your correct prescription will give you optimal vision -- and who wouldn't want that?

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