Glasses have been a part of human culture for centuries. In fact, the first eyeglasses were actually made from glass beads that were strung together and held in place with a bit of string. While eyeglasses have come a long way in the past few thousand years, many people still don’t understand how or why they’re worn. If you’ve ever had even a cursory knowledge of glasses, you’ve probably heard some version of one of the following five myths. Perhaps you’ve even believed one of them, too. But as it turns out, all of these ideas have either been greatly exaggerated or simply aren’t true at all. Here’s the scoop on the five biggest eyeglass myths and why they’re simply not true.
Myth 1: You Need Glasses to See Clearly
If you’ve ever been in a checkout line and someone has picked up a pair of glasses without asking if you need them, you may have wondered what they were thinking. It’s easy to assume that glasses are only meant for people with poor vision, but in reality, that’s not the case at all. In fact, only about 6% of the population actually needs glasses to see clearly. The rest of us can see just fine without them.
Now, when it comes to your eyesight, you do need glasses. Your eyes are the most important organ in your body, and if they’re not healthy, then nothing else is going to matter. Plus, glasses are meant to protect your eyes from damage, not enhance your vision.
So why do people wear glasses if they can see just fine without them? Well, for one thing, glasses make you look more professional and older, which can help you advance in your career. They’re also great for protecting your eyes from sun damage, which can lead to serious medical conditions like macular degeneration and blindness.
Myth 2: Glasses are Just for Old People
Another common misconception about glasses is that they’re only for people who are old. In reality, glasses are pretty much a universal accessory. Anyone who needs them can wear them, regardless of age.
What’s more, extended hours of near-sightedness aren’t really compatible with old age — they’re just as likely to occur in children as they are in adults. In fact, up to 35% of near-sightedness cases occur in people under the age of 21. So, if you’re in your 20s and 30s and begin to notice that reading print is becoming more difficult, or that you need to wear reading glasses, it’s not necessarily old age that’s to blame — it could be that you need glasses.
Myth 3: You Need Glasses to Read
Reading glasses are a completely different story from reading glasses. While you might need reading glasses if you have a difficult time seeing small print or reading from a distance, you don’t need glasses for reading standard print.
Reading glasses are actually a different type of eye glass entirely, and they’re just for extra magnification. In fact, only about 9% of the population wears reading glasses, so if you don’t need them, don’t waste your money on them.
Myth 4: You Need Glasses to Drive
Finally, we have the driving myth. Many people seem to believe that you need glasses to drive, but the truth is that this is simply not true.
While you can’t drive safely without glasses, wearing glasses while you drive is not only unnecessary, it’s also dangerous. According to the American Optometric Association, “wearing eyeglasses while driving is dangerous, because your eyes are not on the road. They are distracted by the glasses and they can’t see the road.”
In fact, the only time when it’s acceptable to wear glasses while driving is if you have refractive errors that would otherwise impair your vision while wearing glasses.
Myth 5: You Need Glasses in the Rain
Finally, we have the rainy-day myth. Again, this isn’t actually a myth – it’s just that wearing glasses in the rain isn’t necessary. As long as you don’t mind getting your lenses drenched, there’s really no reason to wear your glasses in the rain.
As we’ve established, glasses are only necessary when your eyes can’t see clearly enough without them. In other words, you need glasses if your eyes are too weak to handle the sun’s glare or if you have an eye disease like macular degeneration. If you don’t have one of these conditions, there’s no reason to wear glasses when it rains.
Fortunately, there are plenty of other reasons to love glasses. After you read this article, you’ll know exactly why!
Why You Should Love Your Glasses
Now that we’ve addressed the five biggest eyeglass myths, it’s time to talk about the advantages of wearing glasses. For one thing, glasses are actually pretty liberating. They allow you to express yourself and be who you want to be without worrying what other people think.
Not only that, but glasses give you something to look forward to. Once you get your first pair of glasses, you’ll notice that your prescription changes over time. You can cheerfully take your old pair of glasses to an appointment and get a new prescription. In fact, most eyeglasses don’t have set-in-stone prescriptions – they come in different dimensions and are meant to adapt to your particular eyesight.
And, if you’re like most people, you’ll wear your glasses for more than just looking at your computer screen and reading the news. You’ll also wear them when you’re out and about, which means that you’ll want a pair that looks good and protects your eyes. Luckily, there are plenty of options when it comes to finding the perfect pair of glasses.
What to Look for in a Pair of Glasses
Now that you’ve gotten a better understanding of why glasses are necessary and what you can look for in a pair, it’s time to shop! Thankfully, finding glasses is easier than ever – you can do it from the comfort of your bed or sofa.
First, decide what kind of glasses you want. If you’re looking for something classic, preppy, or sturdy, you can’t go wrong with tortoise frames. They’re classic, masculine, and preppy (in more ways than one) at the same time. If you’re looking for something a little more fashion-forward, rx-plastics.com is your one-stop shop for designer frames.
If you have a more specific vision in mind, there are tons of options when it comes to finding the perfect pair of glasses for you. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you shop around.
What Is Your Face Shape?
First, decide what kind of face shape you have. There are a few different face shapes, and each one calls for a different pair of glasses. The most common face shapes are oval, round, and square. If you have an oval face, you’ll have more of a challenge finding glasses that flatter. On the other hand, if you have a round face, you’ll probably be better off going for bolder glasses.
What’s Your Budget?
Next, determine your budget. This will help you decide what kind of glasses to go with and what features to prioritize. On average, you can expect to spend between $100 and $300 on glasses. However, we have plenty of options available under $100 HERE.
Would you like to read more about eyeglasses? Check out our blog HERE.
