By Michael Grossman, MD, Illinois Retina & Eye Associates
When it comes to understanding our bodies it very well could be that no single organ is subject to more misunderstanding and myth-making than the human eye. It’s not hard to see why (excuse the pun).
Frankly, the eye is a complicated organ — an offshoot of the brain itself. In medical school students learn briefly how it works and, if they’re lucky or happen to be assigned an ophthalmology rotation, they might even get a glimpse inside it. And even then as complicated as it is to understand, it takes skill, dilating drops, and some fancy technology to get a good look inside it. However, as any eye care specialist will attest, it’s worth the effort.
It’s also worth the effort to dispel some of the myths about the eye. So let’s examine a couple common ones:
MYTH: Using computers hurts your eyes.
False. Looking at computer monitors does not harm your eyes. At least not permanently. The problem people have when using a computer (or for that matter, reading a book, driving, or watching a movie) is that the eye becomes dry more quickly than normal. The cause of the problem? We blink at about half the rate we normally do.
The typical person blinks about 20 times each minute. When on the computer we blink about 8-10 times per minute. The solution? Blink more. Take a short break every twenty minutes or so and look at something at least twenty feet away so the eyes relax. One can also instill artificial tears before, during, or after being on the computer. The take home message is be mindful of what you’re doing when you’re doing it.
MYTH: Sitting close to the TV can damage kids’ eyes.
False. Children can sit close to the television without damaging their eyes because they are able to focus at closer distances without eyestrain than adults. However, if you notice your child routinely sitting close to a TV, it may be a sign that they are nearsighted and should be examined by an eye doctor. In short, it doesn’t cause problems but it could be a sign of an underlying issue.
MYTH: Staring directly at the sun can actually “burn” one’s eyes.
True. It’s true. The eye has a lens inside it whose job is to focus light onto the back of the eye called the retina. It’s akin to a camera using a lens to focus light onto the film inside it. It is also like using a magnifying glass when you were a kid to focus the sunlight onto a piece of paper or leaf to start a fire. If we stare at the sun, the same thing can happen — the back of our eyes can be burnt and permanently damaged — so don’t do it.
Interesting side note: In certain Asian countries, the rates of nearsightedness in young people are astronomically higher than those in western countries and researchers are finding links between sun exposure and eye development. The evidence seems to show that our eyes need sunlight to develop normally — the preponderance of nearsightedness in these countries might be related to the lack of sun exposure children there get due to the increasing time spent indoors with computers and avoiding air pollution.
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| Michael Grossman, MD |
If you have any questions regarding the health and care of your eyes, attend a free presentation “Is Cataract Surgery Right for Me?” on Thursday, September 4. Video of a LIVE cataract surgery will be shown. For more information or to register, please call 309-589-1880 or visit www.illinoisretinainstitute.com.
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