|
Did Benjamin
Franklin really "invent" electricity by flying that kite in the
electrical storm? Did he really invent bifocals to read the
Declaration of Independence?
My grandparents told me those stories. If you are like me, you
have heard many stories like these that have been retold for so
long they are generally accepted as absolute truth.
Every day I am asked or often told old wive's tales and myths that
just are not true.
Myths about Babe Ruth, Paul Bunyon or Johnny Appleseed are
innocent. But myths and misconceptions regarding your eyes have
more serious consequences, and if your "facts" are wrong, your
eyes, or those of a loved one, might be lost or blinded.
Why not test yourself with the following true or false statements
and see how much you know about your eyes and vision?
Q: The laser specialist has a light treatment that can restore
vision and prevent blindness. True or False?
A: True! This light is called the laser. The new miracle is that
this light can prevent blindness and restore sight in many eye
patients with scar tissue, diabetes, glaucoma or macular
degeneration. The newest method, called LASIK, removes all of the
nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism so that many people
can throw away their glasses.
Q: A cataract must be "ripe" before it is removed. True or False?
A: False. A cataract is the cloudy lens that clouds the vision.
Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract. Actually, it is
"ripe" when the vision is blurry for what the patient needs to see
-- driving, reading or watching television or sports -- or when
the cloudiness blurs the doctor's view inside the eye and hides
any problems.
Q: Cataracts can be removed with a laser. True or False?
A: False. I must hear this 500 times a year. Lasers have never
removed a cataract. The cataract is the cloudy lens from aging or
injury that clouds the vision. The cataract is removed with
surgery, and almost 100 percent of the patients get an artificial
lens replacement, called a lens implant. This almost always
restores excellent vision. Cataract surgery is now so simple, safe
and successful at restoring vision.
Q: Contact lenses can prevent nearsightedness from getting worse.
True or False?
A: False. There is no evidence that wearing contact lenses
produces a permanent improvement in vision. Nor does wearing
contact lenses prevent nearsightedness from getting worse. Contact
lenses can be very successful, but when they are removed, it's as
if you were taking off your glasses.
Q: Eyes can be transplanted. True or False?
A: False. What is transplanted successfully is the cornea. The
cornea is the clear front window of the eye. Corneal transplants
are the Number 1 successfully performed transplant in the world. A
corneal transplant is sometimes confused with and eye transplant.
Actually, this is understandable, since we ask members of the
public to be "eye donors," and we read stories about grieving
parents who donate "the eyes" of their deceased child so that
others may see again with the corneal transplants.
If you have any eye questions, you should get answers with a
professional eye exam. So many eye problems that can cause
blindness have no symptoms -- no pain, no pus, or poor vision --
until it is too late. It takes an eye exam by your medical doctor
or eye specialist to detect these diseases. The good news is
almost everything can be treated and cured if caught
in time. |
|
For more
information
www.floridaeyecenter.com
or call Florida Eye Center at 727-895-2020.
Dr. Sibley
has over 20 years of
experience in the ever-evolving field of ophthalmology. He is a
board-certified ophthalmologist, F.A.C.S., and he is highly
trained to perform the advanced operations offered by the Florida
Eye Center. He is medical advisor to the Society
to Prevent Blindness and to the American Diabetes Association, and
is team ophthalmologist for the Devil Rays. |
