3 Common Misconceptions about Eye Health

What to believe?  Does reading in dim light really ruin your eyesight?  Or what about staring at the computer screen all day.  Will looking at the sun cause damage?  This week, our blog will debunk fact from fiction.

Dim Light

Reading in dim light is not harmful and will not ruin your vision.  Despite what your mother told you.  While dim light won’t ruin your vision, it will strain and tire your eyes out more quickly.  Then, lighting that is too bright will hurt your eyes as well.  The best way to position lighting is to have it shine directly onto the page, not over your shoulder or over your head.

The Computer Screen Question

Even now and then, I get sick of staring at my excel spreadsheets.  So sick of them that  I am tempted to have Dr. Inger, my optometrist, write me a note to excuse me from work due to permanent damage from too much screen time.  However, staring at a computer screen for too long is NOT bad for your eyes.  Sorry, everyone!  While staring at the computer screen won’t cause permanent damage, it may give you dry eyes.  When you stare at the computer screen or any screen, like your phone or iPad, you tend to forget to blink.  So follow the 20-20-20 rule, every 20 minutes, look at an object at least 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds.

Never Look Directly at the Sun

Now, this fact is TRUE.  Never look directly at the sun because the sun may cause damage to your retina.  Although the sun is 93 million miles away, the solar radiation from the sun may lead to solar retinopathy.  So never look directly at the sun, even when there’s a solar eclipse happening.