Michelle Yannaco

It’s important to separate fact from fiction, especially when the topic is eyesight. Knowing how to take good care of your eyes is the first step in protecting your sight. Don’t be blind to the facts—below are 10 common myths about vision, along with the facts.

Myth: Failure to use proper glasses will hurt your eyes.
Fact: This statement does have some truth in it for a small number of people. Some children have eye problems that can be corrected, and it is important that they wear their glasses. But vision problems caused by heredity or physical injury do not go away, even with glasses. While corrective glasses or contacts are needed to improve eyesight, using your eyes with or without glasses will not damage your vision further.

Myth: Reading in dim light can damage your eyes.
Fact: Reading in dim light can cause eye strain, but it will not hurt your eyes permanently.

Myth: Watching television for too long or sitting too close can damage your eyes.
Fact: There is no evidence to suggest that watching television for too long or sitting too close can damage your eyes. Young children often sit close to the television screen because they have a greater ability to focus on objects closer to their eyes than adults do. Due to this, children hold their reading material close as well. However, as they grow older, these habits usually change. If not, this may be a sign of myopia (nearsightedness). To detect possible eye problems, children should have regular eye exams.

Myth: Eating carrots will improve your vision.
Fact: While it is true that carrots, as well as many other vegetables, are rich in Vitamin A, which is an essential vitamin

for sight, only a small amount is necessary for good vision. A well-balanced diet, with or without carrots, provides all the nutrients the body needs. In fact, too much Vitamin A, D or E may actually be harmful.

Myth: Reading fine print for too long will wear out or damage your eyes.
Fact: This is one of the most widely held myths about vision. Some people are concerned that they should not read too much because it will wear out their eyes. Although extensive or prolonged reading of fine print can cause eye strain, there is no evidence to suggest that it will damage or wear out your eyes.

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Myth: Wearing contacts prevents nearsightedness from getting worse.
Fact: Wearing contact lenses will not permanently correct nearsightedness. Myopia or nearsightedness is usually an inherited condition, and contact lenses can only be expected to improve vision. Contact lenses cannot prevent nearsightedness from getting worse.

Myth: Cataracts can be removed with a laser.
Fact: A cataract is a clouded lens of the eye—this procedure cannot be performed by a laser, only by surgery. However, after the surgery, the wrapping around the lens (called the casing) is left behind. This casing can become cloudy and cause blurry vision. The casing can then be opened with a laser, but the procedure should not be confused with the surgical removal of the clouded lens.

Myth: An eye examination is necessary only if you’re having problems.
Fact: Everyone should follow proper eye healthcare, which includes regular eye exams, whether or not you are having any noticeable signs of problems. Children should be tested at birth, at 6 months of age, before entering school and periodically throughout the school years. For adults, the frequency depends on your doctor’s advice and may be every two years or more often. If you have diabetes or an eye disease, you should go every year for a comprehensive eye exam.

Myth: There’s nothing you can do to prevent vision loss.
Fact: More than 90% of eye injuries can be prevented, when simple and relatively inexpensive safety precautions are followed. That means choosing the correct eye safety glasses for the job and wearing them 100% of the time. Regular eye exams can help save your sight. Early detection of vision problems is crucial to preventing vision loss from many eye diseases—especially diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

Provided by Prevent Blindness America

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The stuffy nose, aches and pains that often accompany the common cold can leave sufferers feeling miserable for a week or more. It can be particularly worrying these days since some cold symptoms can be confused with COVID-19 symptoms. Cold season seems to kick into high gear when the temperatures drop, but this can be the year you don’t come down with a case of the sniffles. The following cold prevention tips can increase your chances of making it to spring without losing any days or sleep to the common cold.

• Keep kids clean. School-aged kids tend to carry home lots of germs, so when kids get home after a long day at school, make sure they wash their hands thoroughly and change into fresh outfits. Such precautionary measures can keep colds and other illnesses from running rampant through your house.
• Go outdoors and get some fresh air. It’s a myth that cold air will bring on a cold. In reality, being outside instead of congregating indoors with other sick people may decrease your risk of getting a cold. Don’t be afraid to go outside when the temperatures drop for fear of getting sick. Fresh air and exercise can be good for you.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Keeping your body hydrated will help flush toxins out of your body, strengthening your immune system and making it more capable of fending off colds.
• Keep your distance. Did you know the cold virus can be shot up to three feet away when someone sneezes? The virus travels on the small droplets of saliva and mucus that get propelled from the nose and mouth of a sick individual. If you know someone is sick, stay as far away as possible and wash your hands frequently, paying special attention to your fingertips.

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• Wipe down surfaces. The cold virus can live on surfaces for up to 24 hours. That means a sick person can easily transfer a virus by touching a computer keyboard or remote control he or she shares with others. Use disinfecting wipes or warm, soapy water to clean off doorknobs, telephones, light switches, cabinet handles, and anything that is frequently touched around a home or business.
• Let it out gently. Blowing your nose forcefully or pinching your nose to hold back sneezes can irritate nasal passageways and make them more vulnerable to infection.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. If you are well, keep your hands away from your mouth, nose, and eyes. Viruses are especially good at entering the body through the mucus membranes located in these areas of the body. A combination of frequent hand washing and avoiding touching your face can keep colds at bay.
• Maintain your exercise routine. Regular exercise can boost the body’s immune system and help it to fend off foreign invaders, including the cold virus. A recent study found that taking vitamin C in addition to daily exercise can reduce your risk of cold and cut the duration of the cold should you get one. Before taking any supplements, speak with your doctor to make sure they won’t interact negatively with other medications.
• Recognize that antibiotics are not the answer. Antibiotics are only effective at treating bacterial infections, not viruses, which means they are ineffective at fighting the cold virus.
• If you do get sick, play it smart. Should you succumb to a cold in spite of your best efforts, steer clear of others so you are not spreading the virus. Rest and fuel your body with healthy foods and beverages. There’s no need to visit a doctor for a cold unless you have a fever after several days of being sick. Colds normally last between seven and 10 days. If your symptoms do not improve or if they seem to be worsening, visit your doctor.

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Evidence released by the American Optometric Association (AOA) now supports that children ages 6 to 18 years should receive a comprehensive eye exam before entering the first grade and annually thereafter. The comprehensive eye exam guideline has shifted from a two-year to a one-year frequency recommendation due to research showing the increased prevalence of eye and vision disorders and further understanding of the significant impact eye health has on a child’s development.

The AOA is urging all parents and caregivers to begin taking their children to a doctor of optometry for regular, in-person comprehensive eye exams at a young age to establish a lifelong prioritization of eye health. The AOA is concerned because many children only receive vision screenings offered at a school or pediatrician’s office, which fail to catch a wide variety of conditions that only a comprehensive eye exam can detect.

Good vision and overall eye health are essential in childhood development. Poor vision can affect a child’s ability to participate in class and cause them to fall behind in their education. It can also impact their performance in sports, among other activities. The AOA is educating parents about how comprehensive eye exams go beyond vision screenings commonly offered at school or a pediatrician’s office, which fail to catch a wide variety of conditions. A doctor of optometry can diagnose and treat any eye or vision conditions that may affect overall health, such as glaucoma, brain damage and head trauma.

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The AOA has compiled recommendations in line with the new guideline to ensure eye health and safety is a priority:

• Preschool-age children should receive at least one in-person comprehensive eye and vision examination between the ages of 3 and 5 to prevent and/or diagnose and treat any eye or vision conditions that may affect visual development. One in five preschoolers has a vision problem.
• School-age children should now receive an in-person comprehensive eye and vision examination annually to diagnose, treat and manage any eye or vision problems. Previous recommendations were for eye exams to occur once every two years.
• Routine vision screenings offered at a school or pediatrician’s office are not enough. In their initial stages, many vision and eye health conditions lack obvious signs or symptoms. Routine vision screenings cannot be relied on to catch most vision problems. Even if problems are detected, 61 percent of those children with a problem will not receive appropriate follow-up. Evidence demonstrates that the best course of action is following an annual eye exam schedule.
• Children who experience a concussion should visit their optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam in addition to an appointment with their health care provider. Studies have shown that there is a high prevalence of vision problems in children who experience a concussion, so comprehensive eye exams are essential in protecting their vision as well as determining if more care is needed.

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• Ocular trauma such as corneal scars, hemorrhages and folds are often linked to child abuse and neglect. Comprehensive eye exams play an important role in identifying signs of abuse when external signs may be limited or nonexistent.
• Some additional updates to the guideline include information on myopia, eye injury/protection, the benefit outdoor exposure has on vision and the importance of ultraviolet radiation and blue light protection.

The AOA is committed to ensuring health and safety for all children. The new guideline is based on a three-year systematic review in which the AOA gleaned insights from doctors of optometry and other stakeholders in the pediatric health field, such as pediatricians, social workers and parents. The guideline provides best practices on eye exam procedures and management of conditions and diseases, among other clinical topics.

Provided by the American Optometric Association (AOA). For more information on the revised guidelines, visit www.aoa.org/childrenseyehealth.

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Your child might not be old enough to correctly pronounce “Namaste,” but she’s probably old enough to enjoy the benefits of practicing yoga. Today yoga is no longer just for adults. In fact, it has become all the rage among kids as young as preschoolers. Here are just some reasons why yoga is awesome for preschoolers:

Strengthens Growing Body

Children are born with an innate flexibility. Yoga taps into their flexibility, while increasing a child’s strength as their muscles grow.

Enhances Concentration

Kid’s yoga differs slightly. Some poses are fast-paced, while others are slow. This teaches children self-control, while enhancing their focus and awareness.

Body Awareness

Yoga poses vary from balancing, strengthening and twisting. All of these simultaneously teach kids about their body and how it moves.

Sparks Imagination

Child yoga often focuses on themes that transport a child to a tropical paradise like a “Hawaiian Vacation” and “African Jungle.” Children are having fun, while expressing their creative side and learning about different cultures.

This information was provided by Ashley Spicer, creator of FLYAROO Fitness.

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