We hear a lot of concerns in the exam room - and many of them start with, "I've always heard that..."
The truth is, there are plenty of eye myths that have been passed down for years. Some are harmless, others cause unnecessary worry, and a few might even keep people from getting the care they need.
Let's clear things up. Here are five common eye myths we hear all the time - and what's actually true.
Myth #1: "If I'm not squinting, my vision must be fine."
This is one of the most common assumptions we hear. Many people think that as long as they're not squinting or struggling to read road signs, their eyes must doing just fine.
In reality , your eyes and brain are very good at compensating. You might be straining without realizing it, which can lead to fatigue, headachaches, or blurry vision later in the day. Some vision changes happen gradually, making them easy to miss.
Even if you feel like you're seeing well, a comprehensive eye exam can uncover subtle changes long before they become noticeable - or uncomfortable.
Myth #2: "Reading in dim light will ruin my eyes."
Good news: reading in low light won't permanently damage your eyes.
That said, it can make your eyes work harder. Dim lighting often causes temporary eye strain, fatigue, or headaches, especially if you're reading for long periods.Think of it like exercising a muscle - you may feel tired afterward, but you haven't caused harm.
If reading at night leaves your eyes feeling uncomfortable, better lighting can make things easier and more enjoyable. Your eyes will thank you, but they won't be "ruined" either way.
Myth #3: Wearing glasses will make my eyes weaker."
This myth has been around forever, and we completely understand why people worry about it. But rest assured: wearing glasses does not weaken your eyes.
Glasses simply correct your vision so your eyes don't have to strain. When people stop wearing their glasses and notice things seem worse, it's actually because they've gotten used to seeing clearly - not because their eyes have changed. In face, wearing the correct prescription can reduce eye strain, headaches, and fatige, making your eyes feel better overall.
Myth #4: Headaches are never caused by my eyes."
While not all headaches are vision - related, some absolutely are. Uncorrected prescriptions, focusing issues, eye alignment problems, and prolonged screen use can all contribute to headaches - especially those that happen later in the day or after reading or computer work.
If headaches are frequent and seem tied to visual tasks, an eye exam can help rule out (or confirm) whether your eyes are playing a role. Sometimes, a small prescription change makes a surprisingly big difference.
Myth #5: "If I can read the eye chart, my eyes are healthy."
The eye chart is important - but it's only one small piece of the puzzle.
You can have 20/20 vision and still have dry eye, early signs of eye disease, or changes in eye health that don't affect clarity right away. Conditions like glaucoma often have no early symptoms at all.
That's why comprehensive eye exams look at much more than how well you read letters on a chart. They help protect not just your vision but your long - term eye health.
The Bottom Line
Many eye myths come from good intentions- but they can cause unnecessary worry or delay care. Your eyes change over time, and regular eye exams are one of the easiest ways to stay ahead of those changes.
If something doesn't feel quite right with your vision- or even if everything seems fine - the doctors at Koetting Eye Center are here to help answer questions, clear up concerns, and keep your eyes seeing comfortably for years to come.
Call one of our offices today for an appointment: Brentwood (314) 863-0000 or Ellisville (636) 256-7800
During the winter holidays, twinkle lights are everywhere - on trees, houses, wreaths, and city streets. Most people see them as crisp points of light. But for others, those same lights look fuzzy, smeared, star-shaped, or surrounded by halos.
So, what's going on? And why does it seem more noticeable this time of year?
Tiny Lights Reveal Big Vision Clues
Twinkle lights are small, bright points of light set against a dark background. This makes them a perfect "stress test" for your visual system. When vision isn't perfctly focused or light isn't entering the eye smoothly, these tiny lights quickly show it.
That's why people often first notice suble vision issues during the holidays.
Common Reasons Twinkle Lights Look Blurry
1. Mild Nearsightedness or Farsightedness
Even a small, uncorrected prescription can cause points of light to blur or spread out - especially at night when pupils are larger.
2. Astigmatism
Astigmatism causes light to focus unevenly in the eye. Instead of seeing a clean dot of light, people may see streaks, starbursts, or oval shapes around twinkle lights.
3. Larger Pupils at Night
In dim lighting, pupils naturally widen. This lets in more light- but also more visual imperfections- making blur and glare more noticeable.
4. Eye Focusing Fatigue
After long days of screen use, the eyes' focusing system can become tired. This can temporarily make lights appear softer or less defined.
5. Normal Changes With Age
As we get older, the eye's lens besomes slightly less flexible and less clear, which can affect how light is focused - especially in low - light conditions.
Why It Feels Worse inWinter
Winter creates the perfect conditions to notice these changes:
More darkness earlier in the evening
More decorative lighting
Higher contrast between bright lights and dark surroundings
More time spent driving or walking after sunset
It's not that your vision suddenly changed - it's that winter makes small vision differences easier to see.
Is Blurry Twinkle Lighting a Problem?
Not always. In many cases, it's harmless and simply reflects how your eyes handle light in the dark.
However, if twinkle lights used to look sharp and now seem consistently blury, smeared, or glaring - especially if night driving feels harder - it may be time for a comprehensive eye exam. Often, a small prescription update or addressing an underlying visual issue can make those lights look crisp again.
Call one of our offices today: Brentwood (314) 863-0000 or Ellisville (636) 256-7800 for a complete eye exam and enjoy the lights, and the clarity.
The holiday season is meant to be bright and beautiful. If those twinkle lights aren't looking quite right, your eyes may be trying to tell you something.
If your child needs glasses to see far away, you've probably heard the word myopia, or nearsightedness. It means distant objects look blurry because the eye has grown a little too long. Myopia is very common- and it's becoming more common in children around the world.
While regular glasses help kids see clearly, they don't stop the eyes from continuing to grow longer. That's why many children's prescriptions get stonger year after year. But now there's good news- a new type of lens called the Stellest™ lens can help slow down that progression.
What is the Stellest™ lens?
Stellest lenses look just like regular eyeglass lenses, but they're much smarter on the inside. They were developed by EssilorLuxottica, a leading eye-care company, and are designed especially for children with myopia.
The goal is simple: help your child see clearly and reduce how quickly their vision gets worse over time.
How do Stellest™ Lenses Work?
The secret is in the lens design.
The center of the lens works like a normal single-vision lens to give sharp, clear vision.
Around that center are tiny, invisible lenslets arranged in gentle rings. These small lenslets change how light focuses inside the eye.
This pattern sends a signal to the eye to slow it's growth. When the eye doesn't grow as quickly, the myopia progresses more slowly.
In short, the lens lets your child see well today, while helping protect their eyesight for tomorrow.
What Do the Studies Show?
Clinical studies around the world- and now approved by the U.S. FDA- have shown impressive results:
Children who wore Stellest lenses at least 12 hours a day had about two-thirds less worsening of their myopia over two years compared to kids wearing regular glasses.
Their eyes also showed less physical growth (which is what leads to stronger prescriptions).
The lenses are comfortable and provide clear vision for everyday activities like school, reading, and sports.
That's a big step forward for children's eye health!
Why Slowing Myopia Matters.
It's not just about needing stronger glasses. Higher levels of myopia later in life increase the risk of serious eye problems such as:
Retinal detachment
Glaucoma
Myopic maculopathy (damage to the retina from stretching)
The less myopia a child develops, the lower their risk for these conditions as an adult- so, slowing myopia growth early can help protect long- term eye health .
Who Can Benefit from Sellest™ Lenses?
These lenses are designed for children aged 6-12 years when myopia is first diagnosed or still changing.
They're ideal for:
Kids whose prescriptions are getting stronger every year
Parents looking for an option that doesn't involve contact lenses
Families who want an easy, non-invasive way to help manage myopia
What Parents Should Know
Here are a few important tips if you're considering Stellest lenses for your child:
1. Wear them full-time. The best results come from wearing them all day, every day- at least 12 hours.
2. Get a proper fitting. Because of the special lens design, correct frame alignment is important for best results.
3. Expect a short adjustment period. Some children notice mild differences the first few days, but they ususally adapt quickly.
4.Schedule regular checkups. Myopia control works best with consistent follow-up every 6-12 months.
5. Encourage outdoor play! Spending more time outdoors (ideally two hours a day) also helps slow myopia naturally.
The Bottom Line
The Stellest™ lens gives families a new, easy-to-use option to help manage childhood myopia. It's backed by science, comfortable to wear, and recently approved by the U.S.F.D.A.
While no treatment can completely stop nearsightedness from increasing, Stellest lenses can significantly slow it down, helping protect your child's eyes for the future.
If your child's glasses prescription keeps getting stronger each year, Stellest may be the solution. The Doctors at Koetting Eye Center can answer all of your question and advise you as to whether this is the right choice for you and your child. Call one of our offices today!
We've all felt the toll stress can take on our bodies - tension headaches, sore muscles, trouble sleeping - but did you know stress can also affect your eyes and vision? While it's normal for our eyesight to change slowly over time, intense or prolonged stress can sometimes cause noticeable, temporary problems with how we see. Here's what to watch for and how to protect your eye health during stressful times.
How Stress Affects the Eyes
When you're under stress, your body releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These chemicals prepare you for "fight or flight," but they can also affect the delicate structures in your eyes. Some of the most common stress - related eye symptoms can include.:
Eye strain and fatigue - Prolonged tension can cause you to squint, blink less often, and clench the muscles around your eyes.
Dry eyes - Stress can reduce tear production, making eyes feel scratchy, irritated, or watery.
Blurred vision - Stress - related changes in focus and muscle tension can cause temporary blurriness.
Eye twitching (myokymia) - Small spasms in the eyelid muscles often appear during stressful periods.
Light sensitivity - Some people notice bright lights become uncomfortable during high - stress days.
Stress and Chronic Eye Conditions
For people already managing conditions like glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, or dry eye syndrome, stress can sometimes worsen symptoms. While stress doesn't directly cause most eye diseases, it can make existing problems harder to manage by disrupting sleep, raising blood pressure, or affecting how well we stick to treatment routines.
Reducing Stress for Better Vision
While no one can avoid stress entirely, small daily habits can protect both your overall well - being and your vision:
Blink often - Especially when using screens, to keep eyes moist.
Take vision breaks - Use the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Stay hydrated - Adequate water helps maintain healthy tear production.
Move your body - Even short walks lower stress hormones.
Practice relaxation - Deep breathing, meditation, or yoga can reduce tension.
Schedule regular eye exams - Catching changes early ensures small problems don't become big ones.
When to Seek Professional Advice
If you notice sudden changes in your vision, persistent eye pain, or flashes of light, don't assume it's just stress - see your optometrist promptly. Our doctors can usually see you for emergency type symptoms the same day on a weekday, and we always have doctors on call for evenings and weekends. Quick evaluations can rule out more serious conditions and provide peace of mind.
Bottom Line
Your eyes are connected to the rest of your body - and that means they can feel the effects of stress just like your muscles or heart. By caring for your overall health and making time for regular eye checkups, you can help protect your vision, even during life's most stresssful moments.
