There are Plenty of Myths About Eyeglasses

Eyeglasses have been a part of human life for centuries. Countless individuals throughout the course of human history have worn glasses, including some incredibly powerful and well-respected individuals. Even today, an estimated 64% of American adults currently wear eyeglasses to correct some form of vision problem. They are extremely prevalent throughout the modern and developed world.

With so many people needing eyeglasses to correct their vision, it is quite surprising to hear that there still remains so many misconceptions about wearing eyeglasses spread across the country. Thanks to depictions in movies, TV shows, and more, many people have an inaccurate idea of wearing glasses. While some of these ideas do hold some weight, the majority of them are simply misconceptions and are untrue.

About 75% of the U.S. population requires vision correction. While many people choose contact lenses, the majority of people who require vision correction use eyeglasses. First Eye Care North Arlington is here to clear the air surrounding eyeglasses, dispelling any misconceptions about wearing them. Before we continue, if you believe that you may require eyeglasses or another form of vision correction, contact us to set up a comprehensive eye exam.  

Misconception #1: Wearing Glasses Makes You Dependent on Them

For some reason, people who do not wear glasses seem to believe that by wearing them, you force your eyes to constantly rely on them. However, this is far from the case. Many believe that when your glasses come off, your vision worsens. While, yes, your eyes do become accustomed to the improved vision that comes with eyeglasses, your vision isn’t altered or changed when they are off.

Glasses do not make any changes to your eyes. They simply alter the way light enters your eye, which allows your eyes and brain to see the object in front of them clearly. The urge to continue wearing your prescription glasses simply comes from getting used to seeing with improved vision. Wearing glasses neither fixes the physical issues within your eyes nor causes any other problems.

Misconception #2: Wearing the Wrong Prescription Hurts Your Eyes 

Referring back to the first misconception, glasses do not make any changes to your eyes. The shape of your eye, the lenses, and cornea are what causes bad vision. Your glasses cannot change these parts of your eye. They simply alter the way light enters your eyes. When you wear the incorrect prescription, the light rays that enter your eyes aren’t what your eyes need to see properly.

When wearing the wrong prescription, your vision will not be corrected, and while they will not cause any damage to your eyes, they will lead to some discomfort and even migraines.

Misconception #3: Eye Exercises Prevent You from Needing Glasses 

It seems that the majority of the misconceptions surrounding eyeglasses fail to recognize the major reason people’s vision is bad in the first place. The shape of your eye, your lenses, cornea, and more dictate how well you see. However, there are those out there that believe eye exercises can ensure that you no longer require your eyeglasses anymore.

However, there is no evidence supporting this claim. While stretching before an exercise can protect you from injury, they do nothing to fix your vision.

Misconception #4: Everyone Who Wears Glasses Has Terrible Vision 

While many people who wear eyeglasses do have quite terrible vision, not everyone that wears them does. Many different eye conditions lead people to need glasses, including astigmatism, nearsightedness, farsightedness, and much more. Some people’s vision is only slightly bad yet still requires vision correction.

Some people only need glasses when they are reading, driving, or working on the computer and don’t require them at all hours of the day. The spectrum of prescription lenses is wide, covering a large array of conditions. Yes, many people do have terrible vision, but there are plenty who only have minor issues.

Misconception #5: You Can’t Play Sports if You Wear Glasses

While this may have been accurate a couple of decades ago, technology in the field of eye care has improved drastically over the years. Many people fear that their glasses may get broken while playing sports. Fortunately for athletes with vision needs, there are plenty of durable and effective sports glasses or goggles that are designed to handle the pressure and physicality found in most sports. Countless professional athletes competed at the highest level while wearing glasses.

Misconception #6: If You Wear Glasses, You’re Super Smart

This may be one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding eyeglasses. This idea stems from pop culture depictions of people wearing glasses. Most of these characters are often shown to be extremely intelligent, especially compared to their glasses-less peers. However, there are millions of people all across the country who wear glasses. While many of them are sure to have above-average intelligence, this stereotype doesn’t count for everyone.

Misconception #7: Glasses Make You Ugly 

This is another stereotype that finds its roots in mainstream media. Far too often, movies showed a “nerdy” character go through a makeover that involved removing their glasses, which led to them appearing more attractive to their peers. These films and TV shows even showed these characters being picked on for wearing glasses.

However, wearing glasses doesn’t make you look ugly at all. A study conducted by the Swiss Journal of Psychology found that wearing glasses made your face more distinctive and appealing, proving this stereotype holds no truth.

There are millions of people all across the country that rely on eyeglasses to correct their vision. With so many people wearing eyeglasses, it’s surprising to see so many misconceptions surrounding wearing them. Many of them are the result of decades of media telling you one thing, but we want to eliminate these misconceptions from the world in order to encourage those struggling with their vision to seek the eye care treatment they need. If you require vision correction of any kind, contact First Eye Care North Arlington.