What you learned in school
Health education taught that reading in poor lighting would permanently damage eyesight and lead to serious vision problems. Students were instructed to always have bright, adequate lighting while reading or studying to protect their eyes. Textbooks warned that dim lighting could cause lasting harm to eye health and development. Teachers emphasized that reading in low light was dangerous and could result in permanent vision impairment, making good lighting a critical safety requirement for all reading activities.
What we know now
Health education taught that reading in poor lighting would permanently damage eyesight and lead to vision problems. Students were instructed to always have bright lighting while reading or studying. Reading in dim light may cause temporary eye strain, fatigue, and discomfort, but it doesn't cause permanent damage to vision. The eyes are remarkably adaptable to different lighting conditions. While good lighting makes reading more comfortable and may reduce fatigue, poor lighting doesn't cause lasting harm to eye health. This was confusion between temporary discomfort and permanent damage.