Screens, carrots and cataracts: Experts bust common myths about eye health

From screen distance and spectacle numbers to cataracts, eye drops, and make-up, specialists bust the misconceptions that harm vision and delay treatment

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"Don’t sit too close to the screen", "eat more carrots", "stop rubbing your eyes", and so on...eye advice is something everyone feels qualified to give. But how much of this well-meant wisdom is actually true? For this week’s Fact-check Friday, we asked an eye specialist to break down the most common myths that shape how we treat our eyes every day.

 

1. Does sitting too close to the screen permanently damage eyesight?

Myth: Sitting near screens ruins eyesight.

Fact: Screens may not cause permanent damage, but they can worsen symptoms and encourage myopia progression.

Senior ophthalmologist Dr Himanshu Shekhar, Group Chief Strategy Officer, ASG Eye Hospital explains that constant close focusing can send signals to the brain that may increase minus (myopic) numbers, especially in children. Screens also contribute to irritation, dryness and digital eye strain.

Taking breaks, blinking consciously and adjusting screen settings are small habits that make a significant difference.

 

2. Can eating carrots reduce your spectacle number?

Myth: Carrots fix eyesight and remove the need for glasses.

Fact: Carrots support eye health but cannot correct refractive errors.

Carrots contain beta-carotene, which converts into Vitamin A and helps maintain healthy vision. They may reduce age-related macular degeneration risk, but they cannot reverse myopia or reduce spectacle power. 

 

3. Do spectacles make the eyes weak or ‘dependent’?

Myth: Wearing glasses worsens vision over time.

Fact: Glasses do not weaken eyes or increase power.

Eyeglasses exist to bring vision back to clarity. They do not damage eye structures or increase eye power.

Frequent changes in prescription warrant medical evaluation—not avoidance of spectacles.

 

4. Are cataracts only an old-age problem?

Myth: Only elderly people get cataracts.

Fact: Cataracts can occur at any age, even in newborns.

Dr Shekhar notes that childhood cataracts may be congenital. Adults may develop them due to genetics, trauma, diabetes, UV exposure or steroid use.

The bigger issue is fear. Many people avoid surgery due to myths that it is dangerous or painful.

Modern cataract surgery is painless, safe and one of the most successful procedures globally. Delaying treatment is the only real risk.

 

5. Is rubbing your eyes harmless?

Myth: Rubbing helps relieve itching without consequences.

Fact: Persistent rubbing can harm the cornea.

It may feel instinctive, but constant rubbing causes irritation and micro-injury. Nearly 40 per cent of frequent eye rubbers have uncorrected refractive errors. Allergies contribute heavily too.

Chronic rubbing can alter the cornea’s shape and increase the risk of serious future problems.

 

6. Can yoga or eye exercises eliminate the need for spectacles?

Myth: Eye yoga can reverse myopia or remove spectacle numbers.

Fact: Yoga improves circulation but cannot correct refractive errors.

Eye exercises support blood flow to the head and ocular tissues, reduce stiffness and improve comfort. But they cannot substitute routine medical care or remove the need for corrective lenses.

 

7. Can eye drops replace spectacles?

Myth: New eye drops can make glasses unnecessary.

Fact: Pilocarpine works temporarily for presbyopia, but it is not a cure.

Pilocarpine has been approved for age-related near-vision difficulty. It tightens the pupil and increases lens curvature, improving near vision for a few hours.

Stop the drops, and you’ll need your glasses again.

Possible side effects include redness, headaches and, rarely, retinal detachment. Always consult an eye specialist before using such drops.

 

8. If your vision is normal, do you still need routine eye exams?

Myth: Exams are only needed when you notice a problem.

Fact: Silent eye diseases need early detection.

Glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration often progress without symptoms.

Routine check-ups prevent the “too late” moment.

 

9. Does crying weaken the eyes?

Myth: Tears strain or weaken the eyes.

Fact: Crying actually cleans and lubricates them.

Humans produce three types of tears called basal, reflex and emotional (“psych tears”). Emotional tears help clear irritants, hydrate the eyes and even wash out excess minerals like manganese.

 

10. Is eye make-up harmless if it is branded?

Myth: Branded products automatically mean safety.

Fact: Hygiene matters far more than labels.

Dr Shekhar advises three essentials:

Always remove make-up before sleeping

Keep make-up-free days in your routine

Clean brushes and applicators regularly

Poor hygiene can irritate eyes, clog glands and introduce bacteria.

 

11. Do mobile phones and LEDs emit radiation that ‘cooks’ the eyes?

Myth: Screens radiate harmful energy that damages the eyes.

Fact: Screens reduce blinking and increase dryness—not radiation burns.

Digital eye strain happens because we blink less while focusing.

Regular breaks and occasional digital detoxes help significantly.

 

12. Will children outgrow crossed eyes (strabismus) without treatment?

Myth: A squint corrects itself as the child grows.

Fact: Most children need timely evaluation and treatment.

If the squinting eye has reduced vision, therapy must begin before age eight. Spectacles often help, but some children require surgery.

The earlier the intervention, the better the long-term outcomes.

 

13. Is it safe to glance at a solar eclipse briefly?

Myth: A quick look won’t hurt.

Fact: Even a moment can cause retinal burns.

During an eclipse, intense rays can penetrate the cornea and lens directly to the retina, causing solar retinopathy.

Damage may show up months later.

Protective eclipse glasses or approved filters are the only safe options.   

About Fact-Check Friday

 

Misinformation in health can be more harmful than the illness itself. That’s why every Friday, Business Standard brings you Fact-Check Friday, a weekly series where we unpack myths, wellness trends, and separate evidence-based medical insights from popular misconceptions.

 

From ageing and mental health to fitness, diets, and everyday remedies, our fact-checks are guided by doctors, researchers, and public health experts, so you can make informed choices for your well-being.

Explore more fact checks here:

• Organ donation myths and facts
• 15 myths about ageing
• Hair loss myths
• Juice fasting myths
• Skin myths fact-check
• Mental health myths
• Diabetes myths
• Weight loss myths
• Instagram fitness trends: fact vs hype
• Motherhood myths in India

For more health updates, follow #HealthWithBS 

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.