Parents refuse to buy glasses for their 16-year-old daughter because they think eating certain foods will heal her eyes: 'My dad said I just need to get off my phone to heal my eyes.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Jan 11, 2026 8:00 AM EST

In what world does eating carrots actually heal somebody's bad eyesight? 

Some people resist getting glasses because "technically, their eyesight isn't that bad." I've never understood this as someone who used to see everything blurry, but now gets to enjoy the world's clarity through two beautiful contact lenses. I remember when I first got glasses and could finally see individual leaves on the trees, after at least a year of seeing only a blurry mass. 

Many people resist seeking help for their problems, and it's easy to understand why. It can feel far more empowering to think we can solve our own problems rather than go to someone else for a "quick fix." But if you have the option of a quick fix with guaranteed results, wouldn't you take it over trying to fix yourself on your own and failing? We are not meant to walk alone in this life, and having the tools to thrive can give us more energy for things that can't be fixed with a quick fix.

Sometimes parents are unwilling to get their kids the help they need because they think that they aren't trying hard enough, or that they can fix their problems by making slight changes to their lifestyle. While some kids don't need professional help to overcome their problems, it's a red flag when parents don't even consider professionals' perspectives when helping their kids make needed changes in their lives.

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  • Young Caucasian girl getting an eye examination
    via Curated Lifestyle (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The parents in this story were unsympathetic to their teenage daughter's need for glasses. They think she can improve her eyesight through diet, exercise, and getting off her phone. While those might be solutions to other teenage problems, they are certainly not going to give her 20/20 vision. She deserves better.

  • Am I the bad guy for wanting glasses even though my parents say I don’t need them?

    Hi, I'm 16 and since the middle of 2024 I've been struggling to see things on the board at school, or literally any writing more than a metre away.
    via alvcher
  • Last year in November, I told my mum my eyes were acting up, (I just told her then because I had moved school in May and in my old school we mainly used laptops and I always had friends to tell me what the board says. At
    via alvcher
  • my new school we hardly use laptops and I don't have friends in my classes) and just yesterday she booked me an eye doctor appointment. The doctor said I'm short-sighted and without glasses my vision is 40%, but with them it's 100%.
    via alvcher
  • On the way home, my dad said the doctor could be lying because they just want our money, and that I just need to get off my phone and eat certain foods to "heal" my eyes. Mind you, he wears glasses himself???
    via alvcher
  • A man with a watch on his left hand
    via Aditya Saxena (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • But he said it was too late to fix his own eyes and he did not have the knowledge in order to fix them... My mum said I was on my phone too much too, but also said what my dad was saying was silly.
    via alvcher
  • I went and checked my screen time... my daily average is 3 hours and 30 minutes. Is that even bad?
    via alvcher
  • Then my mum said it must be because I'm fat. I am fat, but not obese?? I play sports all the time (basketball, volleyball, netball), so I'm active. She made it sound like I was "so fat I couldn't walk or run," which isn't true. She also mentioned diabetes affecting my eyes, even though my blood tests last year were fine.
    via alvcher
  • My dad then said, "yeah I wanted to say that but I knew she'd get offended." I literally said nothing. but "oh dam okay then" in a joking way, and he accused me of being defensive.
    via alvcher
  • Then my mum said I should lose weight and wait six months to see the eye doctor again. I told her that's ridiculous because school starts next month and I can't learn if I can't see properly. This really annoyed me because my parents have very high
    via alvcher
  • expectations from me when it comes to grades and I meet them by being a top student every single year at school. My dad just kept saying I need to stop getting defensive and my mum said "What do you mean you can't see the school board?"
    via alvcher
  • Student writing mathematical formulas on a blackboard
    via Vitaly Gariev

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I just said it was fine and I didn't need glasses and walked into my room to go cry. AITAH for wanting to get glasses??
    via alvcher
  • Edit: I just want to say that my parents are really great and I do love them! They buy me things, treat me and my siblings fairly most of the time, let me hang out with friends, have many conversations with me etc. But things like this are just really frustrating.
    via alvcher
  • And my family can afford to buy glasses! Which does not make the situation anymore better, but just wanted to say since many replies think that is the reason..
    via alvcher
  • Only-Breadfruit-6108 Explain to them again. "What do you mean that you can't see the school board?" "Well, it's all fuzzy, it gives me headaches, I'm straining a lot, I'll be automatically behind, and the optometrist agrees. When we go back in six months, it wouldn't surprise me if my vision is worse because of all the extra strain on them. I cannot see long distances, and the distances don't even have to be that long, that's how bad my condition is. I'd show you if I could..." Keep explaining i
    via u/Only-Breadfruit-6108
  • OP alvcher Thank you, I will try!
    via u/alvcher
  • Old-Road-501 NTAH. Go to your parents and say you want a second opinion. They are being ridiculous. Eating healthy and losing weight has nothing to do with eyesight. Don't let them stop you from.doing your best at school. It's your future on the line.
    via u/Old-Road-501
  • OP alvcher Thank you, I appreciate this.
    via u/alvcher
  • Humble-Ant-6281 Your parents are really great but denying you something you clearly need..... Make it make sense!!! NTA, perhaps if your father is in disagreement with initial eye test ask them to take you elsewhere for a second opinion. Also if you have diabetes there's a special eye test you can get to see if you are having eye problems due to diabetes.... Not what country etc you are in but in Australia many places do free eye tests including the diabetes one, will possibly need Medicare card
    via u/Humble-Ant-6281
  • OP alvcher Yes I also live in Australia. Thank you for the information you gave!
    via u/alvcher
  • Aggravating_Luck_354 Oh gosh, NTA Tell them that you don't see well, it's giving you headaches, you're falling behind because you don't see well enough to copy what's on the board. They might understand if you say it's impacting your ability to study. Tell them to okay, get a second opinion if they think the doctor is lying. Tell your teachers, they might let you sit in the first row, or talk to your parents that it seems like you're falling behind because you can't see the board. I already had
    via u/Aggravating_Luck_354
  • OP alvcher Thank you! I really appreciate it. I also do think they will understand if I say it is affecting my school work
    via u/alvcher
  • Charm_Underwater 711 NOTHING you eat more is going to correct your vision! You need glasses! Get a teacher on your side! This is ridiculous of your parents!!
    via u/Charm_Underwater711
  • OP alvcher Thank you, I really appreciate this!
    via u/alvcher
  • Baudica Are your parents intellectually impaired at all? Genuine question, because they sound like they don't have basic understanding of very simple things. Tell your mother that your grades are bound to slip, this next semester, because you don't have the friends around to tell you what is written on the board. You've basically had constant support for not seeing 60% of your school work (!!!!!) And now, you're left guessing what is taught. Ask the teacher(s) if you can sit WAAAAY up front, bec
    via u/Baudica
  • OP alvcher Yes now that you have pointed it out, I really have depended on laptop work and my friends to see what's on the board.. thank you for your input I appreciate it!
    via u/alvcher
  • ReflectionOk2553 Who lies about that though? They could buy her some cheap glasses without a prescription if she was just a kid who wanted glasses. Plus who wants to wear glasses? lol I know I wish I didn't have to. I am getting a sore on the bridge of my nose
    via u/ReflectionOk2553
  • OP alvcher Yes! They act like I want to wear glasses?? No offense to people who wear glasses but it sounds like such a hassle
    via u/alvcher
  • NTA MsChrissikins My mom had this weird fear when I was young where she wouldn't take me to a psych for a formal evaluation because she didn't want any official diagnoses to follow me into adulthood. What this instead did was make me paranoid about what the fuck was wrong with me for two decades of my life and struggled through it without meds/therapy because of that fear. Don't let your parents fear hold you back from what you could achieve with better vision. I know your age is going to hold y
    via u/MsChrissikins
  • OP alvcher Thank you, I really appreciate you talking about your own experience! You are very strong person for going through such challenges.
    via u/alvcher
  • welshgeordie NTAH. Your parents are tightfisted idiots. Your eyesight is NOT going to improve. You CANNOT change the shape of your eyeballs with diet, exercise or less screen time. Do you have another adult in your life who could help you talk to your parents? You really need glasses, you have significant shortsightedness. Please do not drive until you have glasses. Its extremely dangerous to drive with impaired vision. Where I live it would be illegal to drive if I were as shortsighted as you u
    via u/welshgeordie
  • OP alvcher Thank you for your input, I really do appreciate it. I have taken the idea of talking to another adult to help convince my parents I will update the main post very soon!
    via u/alvcher

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