'I’m an optometrist. Here are the 7 myths I always hear.'

When it comes to our eyesight, there are a lot of misconceptions doing the rounds. “If you eat those carrots, you’ll get supersonic vision,” has been uttered by many an Aussie parent to a veggie-phobic kid. (Guilty.) 

After my son was diagnosed with Myopia (also known as short-sightedness), I decided it was time to get clued up on all thing's eye health. Before his diagnosis at seven, we had no inkling anything was any different with his vision. When he first put on his special lenses and said, “Wow, I can see the leaves on the trees,” I was a mess.

Since then, I’ve been hell-bent on helping other parents make informed decisions about their family’s eye health. That’s why Mamamia called on Elizabeth Kodari, a Sydney-based OPSM optometrist, to help debunk some common eye myths. 

Here’s exactly what she told us. 

Myth #1: Wearing glasses will weaken your child’s eyes. 

“Wearing glasses or contact lenses does not weaken our eyes. When we wear glasses our eye muscles can relax and work naturally. As glasses and contact lenses both work to correct our vision, when they are removed our eyes need to readjust and regain focus. This can cause the contrasting blurriness to be more noticeable."

Elizabeth explains that when it comes to Myopia, the opposite of this myth is true. 

“Myopia is a condition where light is focused in front of the retina, causing objects at a distance to appear blurry. If your child has Myopia and doesn't wear the right prescription, it can cause their Myopia to progress faster."

Essilor Stellest Lenses can be found at OPSM. The lenses slow down Myopia progression by 67 per cent on average, compared to single vision lenses, when worn 12 hours a day.

Image: OPSM.

Myth #2: You only need an eye test if you’re having trouble with your eyes. 

“Even if you don’t have symptoms, you can still develop an eye condition. That’s why optometrists recommend having an eye test at least once every two years or sooner (your optometrist can let you know!). It's always a good idea for children to have an eye test before they start school to help set them up for success in their vision and their schooling.”

As with my son, it’s not always easy to pick up on the symptoms of vision loss yourself, which can include squinting, rubbing eyes, headaches and sitting close to the TV. If your child can’t see things clearly, they might assume that’s normal. Booking an eye test will help pick up any problems before they progress. 

From OPSM, the Essilor Stellest lenses use Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target Technology to create a signal that acts as a shield to slow down Myopia progression.

Myth #3: You can’t prevent vision loss. 

Like most things health-related, Elizabeth says early intervention is key in preventing or delaying the progression of vision loss. 

“Ninety per cent of vision loss is preventable or treatable. If you have an eye test early on, we can put measures in place to help preserve or maintain your eyesight.”

In addition to prescribing the best possible lenses, Elizabeth says that an optometrist will take a holistic approach to your eye health. “Prevention includes regular eye tests, taking breaks from screens, eating a balanced diet, spending time outdoors and wearing sunglasses.”

Myth #4: Reading in low light can damage your eyes. 

This one isn’t as black and white, according to Elizabeth. While low light doesn’t damage your eyes, it’s not exactly good for you. 

“When there is less light available, your eyes work harder to bring things into focus and they can become strained. So, while reading in low light doesn’t damage your eyes, you do need to make sure you‘ve got plenty of light to prevent eye strain.”

Myth #5: If everyone in your family has great eyesight, you will too.

Genetics play a role, but they’re not the only factor affecting your eye health. Age, overexposure to UV rays, a poor diet and too much screen time can all affect your eyesight, along with conditions like diabetes and hypertension, advises Elizabeth. 

“You can still develop an eye condition even if no one in your family currently has one. Along with family history, a range of health conditions and lifestyle factors can impact your eyes. For example, we’re noticing more and more kids are developing Myopia which can be caused by genetics as well as lifestyle impacts, including not enough time spent outdoors and too much time on near work activities."

Myth #6: All lenses are pretty much the same.

“To provide the best vision outcomes, lenses prescribed by an optometrist are tailored to the patient. When we’re deciding what lens to prescribe a particular person, we look at a number of different factors including occupation, lifestyle and hobbies. Depending on your age and lifestyle, we can customise lenses so you can see clearly at various distances. Lenses all have different features. Your optometrist can recommend the right lens for you.”

You always have the option to upgrade your lenses, so they help filter the blue-light that comes from computer screens, tablets and smartphones.

Myth #7: Kids don’t like wearing glasses. 

This is so not the case, says Elizabeth! 

“The perception of glasses has definitely changed. These days we even see some children pretending they have some vision issues so they can get glasses like their friends at school!”

With the kids frames available today, it’s easy to understand why. My fashion forward son, at 7, is currently coveting a pair of Ray-Ban Junior frames, that can be paired with prescription lenses. 

“Kids used to be limited when it came to frame options but nowadays, there are so many varieties of colours and styles, that will make your child feel good wearing them.” 

Any myths we missed? Share them in the comments below. 

Essilor Stellest lenses can help slow children's Myopia progression. Book an eye test online now at OPSM. 

Feature Image: Ray-Ban Australia/Mamamia.