The eyes – truths and errors
Our eyes are one of our sensory organs, along with our nose, ears, tongue and skin. Thanks to our sensory organs, we can perceive external stimuli. These are converted into electrical impulses by the sensory organ and passed on to our brain. Our eyes enable us to perceive light stimuli. But what is good for the eyes and what harms them? We have compiled the most well-known truths and misconceptions about our eyes for you.
Reading at dusk damages your eyes
Bad light is tiring for our eyes and it makes them tire more quickly when reading : Over time, the view becomes blurry and the letters are sometimes difficult to recognize. Reading in poor light can also cause headaches .
Your own bed can help. This is because our eyes can rest while we sleep. Although reading at dusk can have a short-term negative effect on our eyes, permanent damage from reading in dim light has not yet been proven.
Wearing glasses worsens the eyes
Eyes don’t deteriorate just because you wear glasses . But especially for people who are wearing glasses for the first time, putting on the glasses can lead to the fact that their own vision without glasses is perceived as worse than before.
The reason for this lies in the previously missing possibility of comparison. Before the glasses were bought, the intensity of the vision represented the maximum vision for the person concerned. However, wearing the glasses redefined the maximum vision. If the visual aid is discontinued, the maximum vision also decreases. Thus, the difference between the optimal vision and his natural vision becomes clear to the person concerned.
Carrots are good for the eyes
“Carrots are good for the eyes”, with this sentence parents try to make carrots tasty for their children . But is this claim actually true? What is certain is that carrots contain beta-carotene – a precursor of vitamin A. If the body is supplied with fat, it can form vitamin A from beta-carotene, which is why beta-carotene is also known as provitamin A. This is essential for the eyes, mainly for seeing in the dark.
Aside from carrots, other fruits and vegetables also contain beta carotene. These include apricots, honeydew melons , mangoes, broccoli, tomatoes or spinach . So if you eat a healthy and varied diet, you don’t risk a lack of vitamin A. Additional vitamin A preparations are superfluous, because they cannot further improve your eyesight.
Sitting close to the TV is bad for your eyes
Sitting too close to the TV has no long-term negative effects on your eyesight. However, sitting too close to the television can temporarily cause eyestrain or tired eyes.
To avoid straining the eyes too much, the brightness in the room should be adjusted to the screen. By the way: if children tend to sit very close to the television, defective vision can be the cause. You should make an appointment with your child to see an ophthalmologist and have their vision checked.
The eyes can stop when squinting
Parents often warn their children not to squint – allegedly otherwise their eyes could stop. However, it has not yet been possible to prove that this could actually occur. However, since squinting can have a negative effect on the development of three-dimensional vision, for example, you should consult an ophthalmologist if your child squints more often.