Myths about sight

As in many areas of medicine, myths and misunderstandings have grown up surrounding eyes and sight. Don't let old wives' tales frighten and alarm you about your vision.

Here are the facts:

• Too little light will not damage your eyesight
  
• Too much light will not damage your eyesight - unless you stare at a very bright light, such as an eclipse, when your eyes could be permanently damaged
  
• Fluorescent lighting does not strain your eyes
  

It's OK to watch TV!

• Watching TV does not damage your sight
  
• It makes no difference whether you have colour or black & white TV
  
• VDUs on computers and word processors will not harm your eyes
  
• The light from photocopiers will not harm your eyes
  

If your eyes are tired at the end of a long day in front of a screen, an anti-reflection coating on your glasses can help

There are no exercises that will improve your sight

• Rolling your eyes round has no effect, good or bad, on your vision
  
• You cannot wear your eyes out by using them
  
• You cannot save your sight by cutting down your reading or close work
  

Seriously speaking

• Losing sight in one eye because of a disease will not strain the good eye or cause it to degrade 
  
• During an eye operation, the eye is not taken out of the socket 
  
• The eyeball is attached to the eye socket by muscles and nerves; if these are severed, the sight of that eye is lost