Submitted by administrator on
Grandmothers of people of a certain age could once be heard to say, “Eat up your carrots, you’ll be able to see in the dark.” I wonder how many children greedily gobbled down their vegetables in the hope of becoming one step closer to their dream of Superhero!
There are many stories bandied around pertinent to eye health that can touch on the ridiculous or the plain ordinary, and it’s likely the less ridiculous of these which can easily be overlooked with our busy lifestyles. But consider for a moment longer than usual, what the long term implications and benefits could be to some of these tips.
We hear ourselves telling our children that working in front of a computer or watching tv too often will damage your eyes. Well if this were true we’d all be blind by now, but prolonged viewing of a monitor be it a TV set or a computer will reduce the number of times we blink, leaving our eyes dry and possibly aggravated. Computers are the worst offenders according to some doctors. Viewing and working in moderation, and of course regular eye checks, will keep damage to a minimum.
What about prolonged exposure to sunlight? Not any old pair of tinted shades will give you protection and fashion these days makes cosmetic eye wear appealing for all ages at a cheap price. But sunglasses can only protect your eyes if they have the proper protection. The damaging UV rays can do serious harm to your retina, which is a light sensitive lining at the back of your eye. Reflected UV can damage your corneas, and we are not just talking on bright sunny days. Snowblindness (Temporary blindness and/or pain resulting from damaged corneas) is just as evident in people who do not have sufficient UV Protection in their lenses. Aim to find a pair of Polarised lenses that protect against UV-A and UV-B rays.
For children that eat all their carrots (though Spinach has been argued to be better!) there is the added rumour that having a night light on overnight would make them near-sighted.
In the late nineties the University of Pennsylvania researched concerns that the use of a night light in the rooms of children would make them five times more likely to develop near sightedness (Myopia) than children sleeping in a dark room. However this was debunked after a 2001 study that asserted there was no danger in constant light sources.
So for those of us that sit outside, watching TV on large screens with shades on, or those that hole up at a computer late into the night; we can rest assured that we are not doing long term damage. Be cautious, be wise, have check ups and be mindful of what aids we choose. As with all things – moderation is a good idea! (except maybe when it comes to healthy eating, carrots or broccoli) I wonder what Grandmother would say to that.