Why does it seem all smart people wear glasses?

Question

Scientists, genuises....when you picture anyone of high intelligence, do you not agree that they always have glasses?

OK extremists, I know not ALL smart people wear glasses, and I know that not all who wear glasses are scientists, so don't go off on a tangent about that, just bear with me here...

Does the intelligence gene lead to poor eyesight, or is it completely coincidence?

Please people, for the love of God, don't be like True Deceptions and Probug...read the whole question, not just the big bold part. Why must I re-state this on EVERY question I ask...and I still get people who completely miss the whole point?

I'm NOT saying all people who wear glasses are genuis, and I'm NOT saying that people who don't wear glasses are dumb READ THE WHOLE QUESTION OR DON'T ANSWER.......SIMPLE!!!!

Thanks to those intelligent ones who understand my question!

Answer 1

Truth is that most people have eyesight problems. The thing with "smart" people is that their reading brings eyesight problems to the forefront, and they are better aware of it, thus more of them wear the protection they need. Can't read if you can't see. A small few may even bring bad eyesight upon themselves by reading in poor light, but for most it has little to do with this. Throw on top of this the fact that most scientists are older, and it is obvious why more of them wear glasses. So no. The "intelligence" gene has absolutely nothing to do with poor eyesight.

Answer 2

The only coincidence is that most of the "smart people" who became famous for being intellectual leaders were 40+ years old when their theories, inventions, philosophies came into fruition. I believe that people under 40 are distracted with the day-to-day life activities -- raising a family, making a living, etc. -- and do not have the maturity or time needed to pursue their intellectual potential to its fullest.

The majority of people over 40 wear glasses due to eye muscle and lens deterioration. It's a fact of life that sooner or later, almost every person ends up wearing at least reading glasses (laser eye surgery not withstanding).

I've yet to reach 40 and yet to need vision correction (seem to be following my dad's vision "path"). I am also not famous ------- yet. ;-)

Answer 3

It's a coincidence. It's also true that these people need excellent eyesight for reading and observation, therefore, they're more likely to correct vision impairments which somebody else might not bother with.

Answer 4

There is a correlation between near-sightedness and higher reading ability. Can't say for sure that one causes the other, but the incidence of both happening together is higher than mere chance would indicate.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

I think that this misconception came for two reasons: one, because people associate intelligence with advanced literacy ( being able to read well and reading a lot ), which they often associate with tired eyes, which they often associate with glasses.
Also, a lot of scientists on cartoons wear glasses, so that probably contributed to the misconception as well.

Answer 7

The extra reading they do cause an increase in eye sight problems but nowadays most teenagers have eyesight problems due to sitting at cimputer screens squinting at answers to questions at a certain web site.

Answer 8

well to get smart you have to learn and most of the time learning involves reading large amounts of reading so we wear out our eyes faster and there for need the glasses. its pretty simple actually. :) that is at least my opinion. and yes i wear glasses and yes i have been called smart not genius far from it but smart. :)

Answer 9

Interesting hypothesis. I have a friend that fits this category. He claims his eyes are bad because he is a voracious reader. Chances are scientists and geniuses do their fair share of reading. Perhaps they all have eye strain and that is the common link. Who knows? I like questions that really make me ponder. You get a star.

Answer 10

It's all the reading and observation at close range.

An acceptable price to pay for knowledge.