November 11 is the Day of the ophthalmologist in Russia. Domestic specialists operate over 500,000 patients with cataracts for the year. For most patients, this intervention is performed using the most modern method – phacoemulsification. It provides higher visual acuity after surgery.

Femtosecond lasers are included in the daily practice of Russian ophthalmologists to achieve micron precision of the incision. High-tech operations to eliminate myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism have become commonplace. Increasingly, myopia is corrected with contact or night lenses.New drugs and treatment regimens are being introduced into practice, new methods of examination are emerging.

In short, ophthalmology does not stand still. On this day, MedaboutMe decided to help the eye doctors a bit and tell patients about the most common misconceptions.

Myth one: you need to eat a lot of carrots for good vision.

It is believed that this vegetable contains a lot of vitamin A, or retinol. This substance is really extremely important for a person. It is necessary for the growth and development of the body, contributes to the full operation of the mucous membranes and good skin condition. Retinol is involved in the immune response, it is necessary for the synthesis of certain hormones, has an antioxidant effect.

In the eye, it is contained in specific cells of the retina responsible for the perception of light. There he is part of the visual pigments of rhodopsin and iodopsin. Due to the decay of these substances, visible light is converted into a nerve impulse. In this form, information about the world enters   the brain . That is, a sufficient supply of vitamin is important for the retina. Retinol is also required for the lacrimal glands located in the conjunctiva.

With severe malnutrition, hypovitaminosis A may develop. It is often found among people in Africa and Southeast Asia. At first it manifests itself as night blindness, then by drying up of the conjunctiva and the cornea. Eyes lose their shine, become dull, they can appear whitish spots.Without treatment, this can result in perforation of the cornea and loss of the eye.

However, carrot does not contain retinol, but its predecessor is beta-carotene. From 9 to 22% of this substance is transformed into a full-fledged vitamin. That is, not all of the eaten beta-carotene becomes vitamin A. The specific indicator depends on the presence of fat in food, the type of product, the amount of vitamin A in the body, and other factors.

In animal products, vitamin A is much more and is there in the form of retinol. They are especially rich in liver of mammals and fish. Thus, 100 g of beef liver contains about 8 daily norms of retinol. Eggs and dairy products also contain this substance. Therefore, in Russia hypovitaminosis A is rare.

Moderate consumption of carrots, undoubtedly useful. However, it has no effect on visual acuity, since the body receives most of the vitamin A from animal products.

Myth two: blueberries stop the growth of myopia

Blueberries are really a very useful berry. In addition to vitamins, microelements and various flavonoids, it contains anthocyanosides. These are special substances that give parts of the plant a purple, pink or blue color.

In the eye, anthocyanosides help restore rhodopsin. This substance is contained in sticks and cones and is continuously destroyed in the process of vision. In addition, they strengthen the wall of blood vessels, reduce blood clots and prevent the growth of newly formed blood vessels. It is important in diabetic retinal damage.

It is worth taking blueberries to anyone who works at a computer for a long time or reads a lot. This will reduce fatigue and help you recover quickly after work. As for myopia, its progression is often associated with a weakening of accommodation. However, the accommodation of blueberries has no effect. Therefore, the use of blueberries does not slow the growth of myopia.

The third myth: if you use reading glasses, your eyesight will quickly fall.

Many people over the age of forty begin to experience discomfort when reading a text or working closely. It can manifest itself as blurred vision or eye fatigue, headaches of different localization. This is due to the normal age process – loss of elasticity of the lens. It can no longer provide clear vision at various distances. This function is taken over   glasses .

Many people refuse to wear them in order to “work the eye.” But the rejection of the glass does not lead to the preservation of youthful eyes. This only leads to a decrease in the quality of life. Both patients with a long experience of wearing glasses, and people who have not worn them until 60 years old, the doctor after the examination draws out lenses of approximately the same strength. They are about 3 diopters stronger points for a distance.

To preserve the elasticity of the lens longer, you should include foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin in the diet. In addition, these carotenoids protect the retina from age-related degenerative processes. They are found in fruits and vegetables of yellow, orange and red color.

The condition of the lens is also affected by the presence of chronic diseases and all sorts of radiation. This may be prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, x-rays.

Myth number four: from reading in transport spoil the eyes

Argued that from reading in transport vision deteriorates. But what really happens? In order to see clearly at different distances, the eye must continuously change its optical power. This is achieved by stressing the ciliary muscle and thickening the lens. This process is called accommodation.

When driving, the distance from the eye to the text changes continuously. Thus, reading in transport is a process of continuous training of accommodation. It has a positive effect on the eye.

However, in people with poor accommodation, continuous use of this function results in eye fatigue. Unpleasant feelings in the head can join her. Probably, on the basis of these sensations, some people made an erroneous conclusion. If reading in transport is possible, then it does not harm the eyes. On the contrary, there is a kind of accommodation training.

Fifth Myth: Women with high myopia can only be born by caesarean section

This misconception has historical roots. Back in 1976, methodological recommendations of the Ministry of Health of the USSR “Caesarean section in modern obstetrics” were developed. According to them, pregnant women with myopia more than 6.0 diopters should give birth with the active period off. That is, it is absolutely impossible to push them.

Obstetricians in this case usually performed a caesarean section. At that time, from 20% to 50% of such operations were performed according to eye indications. This installation is firmly entrenched in the minds of doctors and patients.

However, experience has shown that the probability of retinal detachment during labor is low. And it depends not so much on the degree of myopia, as on the state of the fundus tissue. If there are degenerative changes in the periphery of the retina,   childbirth   may initiate the process of its detachment.

To identify this pathology, each pregnant woman should be examined by an ophthalmologist at 10-14 weeks. The doctor buries special drops in the eyes to expand the pupil. Then a special lens is inspected, which is put on the eye. In the absence of retinal changes, it is possible to give birth in a natural way even with a high degree of myopia.