It’s legal to market
decorative contact lenses as over-the-counter products—and they’re safe to
wear, even if an eye doctor hasn’t examined them on you first.
Fiction. Decorative contact lenses are medical devices
regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Places that advertise them
as cosmetics or sell them without a prescription are breaking the law.
Moreover, an eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) must examine each eye
to properly fit the lenses and evaluate how your eye responds to contact lens
wear. A poor fit can cause serious eye damage.
Laser pointers and toys
containing lasers can cause permanent eye damage.
Fact. According to Dan Hewett, health promotion officer
at FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, "A beam shone
directly into a person's eye can injure it in an instant, especially if the
laser is a powerful one." In fact, when operated unsafely, or without
certain controls, the highly-concentrated light from lasers—even those in
toys—can be dangerous, causing serious eye injuries and even blindness. And not
just to the person using a laser, but to anyone within range of the laser beam.
Eating lots of carrots
is good for your vision.
Fact. Carrots are a good food for healthy eyesight
because they contain carotenoids, which are precursors of vitamin A, a nutrient
important to your eyes. However, a well-balanced diet can contain lots of foods
that offer similar benefits, such as other darkly colored fruits and vegetables
like peas and broccoli. Eating a well-balanced diet also helps you maintain a
healthy weight, which makes you less likely to develop obesity-related diseases
such as Type 2 diabetes, the leading cause of blindness in adults.
Sitting too close to
movie, television, and computer screens will damage your eyes.
Fiction. According to the American Academy of
Ophthalmology (AAO), watching televisions, including flat screens, can’t cause
your eyes any physical harm. The same is true for using the computer too much
or watching 3-D movies. AAO says your eyes may feel more tired if you sit too
close to the TV or spend a lot of time working at the computer, but you can fix
that by giving your eyes a rest.
It's okay to use an
over-the-counter eye reliever every day.
Fiction. According to FDA‘s Wiley Chambers, M.D., doctors
don’t recommend long term use of redness-alleviating drops. Although initially
they help to constrict the blood vessels in the eyes (getting the so-called
“red” out), continued use leads to a rebound effect. After continued use, the
drops can become the reason that your eyes are red. It is best to use them just
for a day or two, Chambers says.
Smoking increases your
risk of developing macular degeneration.
Fact. Smoking is a major risk factor for developing
macular degeneration, a disease that gradually destroys sharp, central vision.
Other risk factors include genetics, diet, exposure to bright sunlight,
cardiovascular disease, and hypertension (high blood pressure).
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