There are a couple of views many adhere to tenaciously with respect to spectacle wear, while some on the other hand seek clarifications to these myths. But what are these blurry sets of thesis, and how true are they?
Are refractive errors communicable? The answer is No; they aren’t. Myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism cannot be transmitted physically from person to person, as they are not diseases; neither do they have disease vectors. They are simply lapses in the way light rays bend to reach the eye for us to perceive images clearly. Such errors can be compensated for with appropriate corrective lenses.
No one is too young to have a refractive error. As such, no one is too young to wear glasses (corrective or protective), provided one has a visual system which is either less optimally functional or in need of ocular protective/preventive aid.
- Are All Sunglasses dark shades?
Sunglasses aren’t just dark shades as some perceive, especially sunglasses with UV blocking agents. This set of sunglasses serve a whole lot of preventive functions to the eye, blocking off harmful Ultraviolet rays which cause cataracts and retinal degenerations that could lead to severe visual impairment or even total vision loss. Any pair of sunglasses void of this protective element should NEVER be worn, as such could cause more harm to the eye than good.
- Change in Eye Configuration:
Spectacle wear doesn’t make one’s eye sink inwards or bulge out in any way really. Diverging lenses minify images while looking through them; and converging lenses on the other hand magnify images. So, what on-viewers see really (which makes them make this assumption) is a function of the lens’ optical property, not a change in the configuration of the eyes.
- The Myth of Deterioration of Vision with Continual Spectacle Wear:
From about 40 years and above, a condition called Presbyopia sets in. This is observed as a difficulty in reading near prints with one’s distant spectacle correction in place, due to a gradual loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens in the eye. This is compensated for with the use of lens ‘‘Adds’’; and with increase in age, the ‘‘Adds’’ increase. Likewise, in high myopia, the length of the eyeball keeps increasing, requiring higher corrective lens powers. So, basically, it is the structures in the eyes that are changing. Lenses don’t cause any of these changes or deterioration in vision in any wise.
Can regular eye exercises keep one from needing glasses? No! They can’t. While eye exercises can help improve the functionality of the eye muscles, vision relies on the shape of the eyes and the health of the eye tissues, none of which can be appreciably altered with eye exercises.
- The Theory of Reading in Dim Illumination:
Reading in dim illumination cannot worsen one’s vision. One will only end up straining one’s eyes and at some point could even attain dark adaptation. However, after such dark adaptation over a long period of time, one must not expose oneself immediately to a very bright light source, as it could bring about bleaching of the retina. The use of sunglasses, Polaroid lenses or adaptive lenses with such protective functions is recommended after such dark adaptation.
- The ‘Damaging Effect’ of Wearing Wrong Prescriptions:
When one wears a wrong prescription, one could have headaches, dizziness, blurred vision or even double vision (diplopia). But these presentations would eventually fade out on discontinuation of such wrong prescriptions and the administration of the correct/appropriate spectacle prescriptions. So, wrong prescriptions do not damage the eyes as is widely thought. They bring about discomforts, which of course can be eliminated with the proper corrections in place.
- The Myth of Not Looking Good With Glasses:
Days are gone when eye wears had stereotypic presentations, lacking variety. In our present day, different brands and classes of frames and lenses exist to suit diverse persons, physiques, styles, occasions and purposes; and as such, you can find glasses that add class and sophistication to your look. You always can.
DR. EZE UGOCHUKWU FAVOUR
