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Vision Facts & Myths

Old wives' tales abound about the eyes. From watching TV to eating carrots, here's the lowdown on some vision facts and fiction.

MYTH: Sitting too close to the TV is bad for your child's eyes.

FACT: Although parents have been saying this ever since the television first found its way into our living rooms, there's no evidence that plunking down right in front of the television damages a child's eyes. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) says that kids can actually focus up close without eyestrain better than adults, so they often develop the habit of sitting right in front of the television or holding reading material close to their eyes.

Old wives' tales abound about the eyes. From watching TV to eating carrots, here's the lowdown on some vision facts and fiction.

MYTH: Sitting too close to the TV is bad for your child's eyes.

FACT: Although parents have been saying this ever since the television first found its way into our living rooms, there's no evidence that plunking down right in front of the television damages a child's eyes. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) says that kids can actually focus up close without eyestrain better than adults, so they often develop the habit of sitting right in front of the television or holding reading material close to their eyes. However, sitting too close to a TV may indicate that a child is nearsighted.

MYTH: If you cross your eyes, they'll stay that way.

FACT: No, contrary to the old saying, children's eyes will not stay that way if they cross them.
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