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13 Secrets Your Eye Doctor Won’t Tell You

The experts weigh in on the best way to care for your eyes.

from Reader's Digest Magazine | June/July 2011
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1. "Never use tissues or toilet paper to clean your eyeglasses. Paper is made of wood, and it will scratch your lenses. I like to use my tie because it's silk and really smooth." -- Robert Noecker, MD

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2. "Polarized sunglasses are great at reducing glare, but they can make it difficult to see the LCD on your cell phone or navigation system. It's harder to see an ATM screen when you've got polarized sunglasses on too." -- Janice Jurkus, OD

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3. "Many of you seem to think you can go on with life as normal immediately after I dilate your eyes, but it'll be two or three hours before you can do anything that requires concentrated visual attention. Sometimes people get irritated that they can't read a 12-page document." -- Paul Harris, OD, associate professor at the Southern College of Optometry, Memphis

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4. "Most people know that UV radiation can damage skin, but they don't realize it's also bad for eyes. You wear your sunglasses only when it's sunny? That's like saying 'I only smoke sometimes.' Wear sunglasses big enough to block the light from above and below — they should have thick sides or wrap around. If you wear contacts, ask for UV coating." -- Stephen Cohen, OD, past president of the Arizona Optometric Association

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5. "Despite what generations of parents have told their kids, carrots aren't the best food for your eyes. That honor goes to spinach, kale, and other dark, leafy veggies." -- Andrea Thau, OD, associate clinical professor at the SUNY College of Optometry

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6. "Eyedrops (any kind) sting less if you keep them in the refrigerator." Janice Jurkus, OD

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7. "Some doctors pressure patients to have cataract surgery right away, but if it creates financial problems for you, there's usually no harm in waiting. Cataracts rarely hurt you — they just make it hard to see, like looking out of a dirty window." -- Robert Noecker, MD

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8 "Reading in dim light won't hurt your eyes. The worst that might happen is that you get a headache." -- Eric Donnenfeld, MD

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9. Take extended-wear contacts out before bed. Your chance of infection is 10 to 15 times greater if you sleep in them." -- Brian Bonanni, MD

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10. "Don't just grab any old bottle of eyedrops out of your medicine cabinet when a new problem comes up. If you have an infection, steroid drops might make the redness look better, but the infection could get worse. I've had to remove people's eyes because of that." -- Brian Bonanni, MD, an ophthalmologist at Gotham LASIK, New York City

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11. "Pinkeye isn't always benign — a number of patients end up with light sensitivity and even vision loss. But many physicians treat it with antibiotics that won't help if the cause is a virus. We do a rapid test for adenovirus — if that's what you have, we treat it very differently than if your pinkeye is bacterial." -- Robert Sambursky, MD, an ophthalmologist in Sarasota, Florida

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12. "No, it's not okay to wait for symptoms to appear. Some blinding eye diseases have few warning signs before they've taken away your vision. A yearly exam is the only way to catch things early." -- Paul Harris, OD

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13. "If you're over 60 and considering LASIK, wait until you develop a cataract. Then we can fix your vision as part of the cataract surgery, and your insurance will be more likely to pay for it." -- Robert Noecker, MD

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Your Comments

  • Badkins105

    What useful, helpful information. Thank you!

  • Memurray

    I am not sure what doctors the writer of this article has been using, but after working with several eye doctors over ten years, we ALWAYS give our patients these tips.

    • Ebangao

      Yeah, I was wondering why my eye doc wouldn’t want me to know!

    • Pamela

      They just use the tag “things they won’t tell you” to get people interested… most of these “won’t tell you” articles are actually filled with things they would tell you… with a few exceptions, perhaps.

    • Rozerox1996

      Hi are you an eye doctor?

  • Dot035

    Thanks for the info on cataracts. I’ve been under some pressure for surgery for what seems to be an early stage,and now I know I can comfortable wait for the right time.

  • Whittle

    I don’t see how these are considered secrets if I regularly cover all of these tips more than once over the course of a week with my patients.

  • JS

    These are definitely good things to be reminded about, however, I hardly believe their is any secret to any of them!

  • Soccermom1121

    This reads more as “13 things your eye doctor will tell you”! One thing I found out they DON’T Tell you…those glasses that darken in the sun are great for being out in the sun…but get in a car and you need sunglasses because they will clear up!!!

    • JLC

      As a Licensed Optician, I feel it is my responsibility to tell patients all the things this article lists, but also the misnomer about Transitions lenses. They are NOT a substitute for sunglasses! Even the brochures we receive from the company state this. All states do no require Opticians to be licensed. Those places are where you don’t get the information you need to make an informed decision. You can flip hamburgers one day and fit people in glasses the next day.

      • rinceceol

         Most people don’t know the difference between an Ophthalmologist, an Optometrist and an Optician. VERY important differences there! :-O

  • song4you

    I like these articles, but I don’t understand why they’re presented as “secrets they won’t tell you” like they’re trying to cheat you or something. Are they really SECRETS anyhow? How about just calling then “13 interesting facts about eye care”.

  • song4you

    I like these articles, but I don’t understand why they’re presented as “secrets they won’t tell you” like they’re trying to cheat you or something. Are they really SECRETS anyhow? How about just calling then “13 interesting facts about eye care”.

  • Eye2020

    Good info, but I think something would be amiss if an eye doctor didn’t inform a patient of these points. The title is really stupid.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Lucy-Defeo/850350503 Lucy Defeo

    I’d like to add that eyeglasses can not cure your blurry eyesight (nearsighted, farsighted etc.) but there are some exercises to help and make them back to normal 20 20

    • Luch Eze

      Please what the exercises that can help nearsighted?

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EJBWWT5TWRZPZIK7DPKJNIC6CQ Wentra

        Look up the Bates Method

    • Nybribo

      I’ve never come across an exercise that cures nearsightedness, farsightedness, etc. These have to do with the shape and size of the eye. No exercise can change that. Only glasses, contacts, or laser vision correction can help with that

  • http://www.goodhealthnaturally.com Dave Meyer

    The reason Spinach and Kale are good for your eyes are that the provide Lutein and Zeaxanthin which protect the macula, where the sharp vision is concentrated. If you suffer macular degeneration, it is too late to reverse it by eating these alone. The best and most effective way is to get a supplement that is sprayed under your tongue, as it gives 10 times the absorption compared to tablets and does not get lost in the digestive tract.

  • Bettytupperware

    I was hoping for more info on dry eyes.  The restasis isn’t helping as much as it did in the beginning.

  • Ms. Sindee

    And I prided myself on knowing some of this. Glad I read the article. Learned some things. Good job ! 

  • CLS

    As an eye doctor, I am very disappointed in the choice of the title of the article.  On a regular basis, I tell and remind my patients of these tips listed.  I feel that this article is going to make patients question the integrity of the Optometric profession.  

    • Krw1215

      Doc:  Give me some free advice LOL.  I was told to take a supplement because I have a genetic predisposition to Macular Degeneration.  The Dr. also said there was a certain type of supplement that I should not use because at one time I was a smoker and one type of supplement had been shown in studies to trigger lung cancer.  Are you familiar with this?

  • Sclarkhighway

     Very good article! Thanks a lot!!!!

  • Woods

    An optometrist found my cataracts when I was in my mid-50′s.  An opthalmologist said they were only incipient, and could wait a year or so.  I waited a little over a year. By that time the cataracts were very thick and brunescent (brownish.)  Another ophthalmologist said they were quite old. I must have had the “incipient” cataracts for a long time.  Not realizing how bad my vision was in dim light, I had been driving over yellow lines, etc., and could have had an accident.  After the first surgery I regained my color vision but not my visual acuity.  Twenty years later that eye is 20/200, but I had a better surgeon and a more successful surgery in the other eye.  I’m sure some doctors pressure patients too much, but the first opthalmologist I saw was too casual.  I should have gotten a second opinion. 

  • Yongke12003

    Any way, it is kind to share this information. So it return to say thank you for the author.

  • Makhan Barha

    Mahmood Ali Khan These are not actually secrets. But it is helpful to be reminded. Thanks

  • Lauren

    How about a lens cleaning cloth? It is made to clean lenses! This aritcle is a terribly sad to read. I work with an extremely skilled and caring group of Opticians, technicians and a wonderful Optometrist who truly believes in helping people acheive their BEST vision and eye health. We make sure that our patients are educated about their eye health in addition to designing a prescription especially for them. We make them aware of benefits of well-made lenses (which are more expensive because they are made with the latest technology and therefore offer optimum sight correction) and make sure that the frame they choose is actually a frame that will enhance their appearance. I think there are definitely practices out there that leave much to be desired in the way of customer service and it is up to the consumer to find the best doctor for them. People…please do your research before hitting up one of the big chains just because it is less expensive. Also, watch out for online businesses selling glasses and contact lenses. These companies are not always operating legally and their focus is NOT on the health of your eyes or your best vision, it is on money. Sounds funny to say being that they are usually offering huge discounts and extremely cheap options on glasses/contacts, but they make their money in volume of sales. The more they push that your eye doctor is the bad guy, the better their sales. I am so troubled that Reader’s Digest would publish this article at all. There are great optometrists out there who truly do care about their patients and it is ridiculous to try to instill mistrust the industry as a whole. Shame on you Reader’s Digest. This is not helping people be empowered, it is simply misinformation. SHAME!

  • Tdyklt

    Your webb pages are too slow and awkward to get to the info and why would any doctor with0ld it.

  • Ussai2008

    thanks for the information,it was indeed educative.At least i have learn one or two things.

  • Allie Maie

    “Sometimes people get irritated that they can’t read a 12-page document.”-
    Too funny!

  • Allie Maie

    “Sometimes people get irritated that they can’t read a 12-page document.”-
    Too funny!

  • Hh30011

    Please realize however, that some eye drops cannot be refridgerated. Know if yours can before doing so.

  • Alexhua3

    It’s helpful to some degree. Thanks for sharing.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jLoveLacz05081987 NunnallyKallen MarieVi Lacre-H

    now this is a good advice for those patients who have eye problems… ^_^

  • http://www.optegra.com/ John Laser

    Some great tips there especially regarding dilating eyes as peoples vision is very blurry for a while so it’s hard to get back to doing things straight after.

  • http://twitter.com/Zangetsu__San Zangetsu San

    1. “Never use tissues or toilet paper to clean your eyeglasses. Paper is
    made of wood, and it will scratch your lenses. I like to use my tie
    because it’s silk and really smooth.”
    – Robert Noecker, MD

    yes, i am sure your tie would be fine to smear dirt and grease around my glasses.

    no thanks robert noecker, i would sooner use paper tissue than your dirty old tie.

    next time try recommending something better than your tie.

    ( they make cleaning cloths for that very thing )

  • DK Manizner

    My eyes both are itching like there’s sand on it and they become reddish when I smoke.

  • http://www.disposablecontactlenses.com/ disposable contact lenses

    Informative post.I am surfing for something like this.

  • sameen zara

    my eye sight is week 0.25 plz tell me wot should i do to recover that

  • Dan

    What sort of eye care professional would NOT give these tips? ‘don’t sleep in your contact lenses’ is CL hygiene 101!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/tony.az.73 Tony Az

    This may sound crazy..but think of this…When you have no sunglasses you close your eyes and open them as small as possible,….but when you have glasses on you open them as wide, forgetting about the harmful rays that the glasses just don’t protect you from..They just don’t. i’m not so sure sun glasses are what they are cracked up to be…They leave your eyes unknowing open and relaxed, when our natural instinct is to shut them and squint…..