4 Common Eye Care Myths Among Travelers

Which of the five senses are you most afraid of losing? If you are part of the majority, your answer is the ability to see. Because our eyesight is so precious, it is no wonder that there are so many myths about our eye health. What can harm our eyes, and what can protect them? Let’s discover the 4 most common eye myths that are most common among travellers:

Myth 1: Eye exercises help your vision

Fact: Eye exercises will not improve or maintain your vision. Also, they will not improve your health and will not reduce your need for glasses. Vision depends on other factors, such as the shape of the eyeball and the tissues of the eye, none of which can be altered through eye exercises. But it is a fact that by applying specific exercises and techniques, you can relax the eye muscles and increase blood circulation in that area.

Myth 2: Looking at the sun can improve health and provide well-being

Fact: Looking at the sun even for a while without proper protection can damage your retina permanently and even cause blindness. With ordinary sunglasses and improvised filters, it is not safe to look at the sun. The only safe way to look directly at the sun is with the special solar filters that meet the ISO 12312-2 specifications.

It would help if you remembered that sunglasses not only protect us from light but are specially processed to provide protection from UV-A and UV-B radiation. There is a misconception in the world that there is no danger of ultraviolet rays on cloudy days. In fact, radiation is also present in the cloud and can be just as harmful to your eyes. So, do not neglect to wear your sunglasses, even if the sun is not so bright or is hidden behind clouds one day. It is a valuable health ally for all seasons.

Myth 3: It is best not to wear glasses or contact lenses all the time. A short break from using them allows your eyes to rest.

Fact: If you need glasses or contact lenses to see or read, it is a good idea to use them. Not wearing your glasses will increase the tension in your eyes and make them tired. Certainly, however, not wearing glasses constantly will not worsen your vision, nor will it lead to any eye disease.

Myth 4: It isn’t good to look at a screen all day.

Fact: Computer screen use does not harm eye health. What is true is that sitting in front of a screen all day can contribute to eye strain. People who stare at a computer screen constantly and for a long time tend not to open and close their eyes as often as others, making their eyes feel dry and tired. To prevent any damage, adjust the lighting so that there is no strong reflection of light from the screen, rest your eyes every 20 minutes and make a conscious effort to open and close your eyes regularly to keep them hydrated.

During the trip, we usually do not pay attention to the protection of our eyes. We are focused on our journey and our activities. However, this can create unexpected problems for us that will need to be addressed immediately. To deal with these problems, it would be ideal for visiting a professional ophthalmologist before our trip, who will do the necessary check on our eyes and guide us on their protection. You can see a vision clinic in Southampton for a quality eye-check up before your travels, just to be sure about your vision’s safety.