We Love Eyes
On Valentine’s Day (okay, and every day!) Atlantic Eye ophthalmologists can get a little mushy about these awesome organs known as our eyes. This February, we want to show our love by sharing 10 “fun facts” about eyes and vision care:
1. Two parents with the same eye color can have children with entirely different eye color.
Current research suggests that as many as 16 different genes could be responsible for eye color, explaining why two parents with the same eye color can have children with an entirely different eye color.
2. Our eyes grow, too.
Generally, babies are born with eyes that are approximately two-thirds of their full adult size. Eyes continue to grow usually during the first few years of life and then again in puberty.
3. Some people are born with two different-colored eyes.
This condition is known as heterochromia. See What Causes Heterochromia – And is it a Concern?
4. It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
Think about it!
5. Eyes are busy.
Our eyes can focus on 50 different objects every second.
6. Our eyes get a daily workout (even if we don’t!)
Out of all the muscles in the body, the muscles that control our eyes are the most active.
7. Your eyes are totally YOU.
Iris scans are becoming the way-to-go for identification purposes. Your iris (the colored part of your eye) has 256 unique characteristics; your fingerprint has just 40.
8. Eyes heal quickly.
With proper care, it takes about 48 hours for the eye to repair a corneal scratch. But always check with an Atlantic Eye ophthalmologist if you think your eye may be scratched or otherwise injured.
9. The average eye measures about 1 inch across and weighs about 0.25 ounce.
But don’t let their small size fool you: The only organ more complex than the eye is the brain.
10. 80% of vision problems worldwide are avoidable or even curable.
Our eyes are hardworking powerhouses, but we need to treat them with care and respect in order to protect and preserve the precious gift of sight. At Atlantic Eye, we’re all about providing complete eye and vision care to all our patients. Give your eyes some love – contact us today!