Eyes are mysterious and not just to poets or artists. The average human’s knowledge of his/her eyes is a mix of facts and myths. Here are five facts related to the human vision that your Fort Worth eye specialist will confirm.
1. Carrots Can Strengthen Eyesight
Carrot’s efficacy in improving eyesight is perhaps the best known but also the most debated eyesight trivia. As your eye specialist will confirm, carrots contain beta-carotene which the human body converts into Vitamin A. A deficiency of this vitamin can cause dryness of the eyes, and ulcers in the cornea. Carrots also contain lutein, a compound that prevents macular degeneration and consequently, blindness. Vitamin A can also prevent cataracts. Carrots are the poster image for natural sources of Vitamin A but they are not the only source of it; pumpkins, sweet potatoes, apricots and other orange tinted fruits and vegetables also contain Vitamin A. Milk, cheese, liver, and egg yolk also deliver Vitamin A to the body.
2. The Human Eye Has Incredible Resolution
If you were bowled over by a newly launched DSLR camera’s resolution, know that the human eye beats it by a good margin. While there is no consensus about the exact resolution of the human eye, most people place it at around 576 MP. This figure is calculated with the assumption that human beings have a 120 degree wide view field. The resolution would be even higher if calculated at the standard 180 degrees. For your reference, the highest resolution that a DSLR has right now is only 76 MP. Despite the stellar numbers, the human eye has poor peripheral resolution, perceiving peripheral objects in black and white.
3. Blue Eyes Appeared as a Genetic Mutation
Initially, all human beings had brown eyes. Blue eyes appeared as a mutation in the de rigueur brown eye about 6,000 years ago. All people with blue eyes are also assumed to have a common ancestor. Good luck finding him/her.
4. Tears are Not Just Drops of Water, and They are Not Just for Crying
Each tear has three layers: an outer oily sealant that protects the tear, a middle layer that contains minerals, and the heart which allows tears to prevent the eyes from drying. Tears also have specific functions and their composition varies accordingly. Even when we aren’t crying, tears continually coat our eyes to prevent them from drying. When triggered by a reflex, like a dust speck flying into the eye, our tears contain antimicrobial chemicals. When crying out of sadness or joy, our tears come out with more hormones.
5. Reading in Dark Will Not Damage Your Vision
Good news for the people who devoured their Enid Blytons with a torch after lights out: it is not the reason you wear or don’t wear glasses today. While reading in dark can cause temporary headache, it has not been scientifically proven to impair vision.
That brings us to the end of our list. Remember to eat not just carrots but also dairy products and other orange-colored vegetables. Your eyes have an incredible resolution and it is not damaging to use them in the dark. Don’t forget to see your Fort Worth eye specialist every once in a while. Contact Dr. Marvelli’s office today. 817-346-7333.
