Our eyes are one of the most sensitive organs, and our sight is one of the most valuable gifts. Our eyesight depends on our genetics. Either we have a perfect 20/20 vision, or we need corrective procedures like corrective lenses or LASIK. We don’t get to choose who well we can see as it depends mostly on our genes, and our eyesight is bound to deteriorate with age. However, certain aspects of eyesight that we have in control and changing or developing a few healthy habits can make a lot of difference in the long run. There are plenty of apparently harmless habits that could be affecting your eyes negatively without us realizing it.
Here are common habits that could be affecting your eyes and causing eye problems and what you have to do to make it right.
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Wearing Contact Lenses Frequently
Leaving the contact lenses in your eyes longer than the recommended period can put you at the risk of eye infections which can lead to long-term damage.
You might feel tempted to wear those daily disposables on day two, but you are increasing the risk of eye problems multifold.
Sometimes, people wear their lenses for way too long and do not let their eyes rest, due to which their corneas do not get as much oxygen as needed, especially gray contacts. This can cause hundreds of different eye issues.
Other habits like sharing your contacts with another person, wearing contacts in the shower or pool, sleeping in the contacts, or not replacing your contact after the recommended time are also major causes of eye infections.
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Not Wearing Sunglasses
Extensive exposure to ultraviolet rays can be harmful to the retina. It can be a cause of several eye problems like cataracts.
Sunglasses are not only stylish, but they also protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. It is advisable to wear UV-blocking sunglasses if you spend a major part of your day outside.
Make sure that your sunglasses provide protection against UV rays. This quality is what makes some sunglasses more expensive than others.
If you wear contact lenses, sunglasses with UV protection offer an extra layer of defense. Some brands offer contact lenses that have a UV protective layer. These lenses will provide better protection than simple ones.
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Rubbing your Eyes
You feel the temptation of rubbing your eyes when something has gotten in it. Rubbing your eye may give you a moment of relief, but it will spread the matter that was causing itchiness all over your eye. Also, you will be transferring more germs in your eyes if you touch them, which will make things worse.
Rubbing eyes frequently and vigorously can cause permanent corneal damage. It is linked with an eye disorder known as keratoconus. In this disorder, the cornea begins to thin and bulge outward.
Rubbing can also break the thin blood vessels in and around the eyes. Moreover, rubbing away the irritation in your eyes can push the debris deeper. If you feel something has gotten in your eyes, blink rapidly to let the eyelids and tears wash it away. Or, you can use eye drops to clean the eyes as well.
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Sleeping with the eye makeup on or wearing expired eye makeup
A study conducted in the UK showed that more than half of the women are risking their eye health as they sleep with eye makeup. Not taking off eye makeup can cause eye infections that can damage your eyes permanently. You should remove all your makeup before going to bed, or you can keep those wonderful green lenses on if you are comfortable wearing them. It is not only good for your eyes but also your skin.
Though you will be reluctant to throw away your favorite mascara when you have only used it a couple of times, it’s a necessary evil if it has expired. Makeup that has passed its prime can irritate the contact lenses in your eyes and cause a horrible eye infection.
Ophthalmologists say that makeup should be thrown away in three months after its first use. Some say that you can keep mascara and eye shadows for six to nine months. However, to be on the safe side, you should not test them to limits. Throw them away when they get clumpy. Avoid adding water to them as it will make them perfect for bacteria to develop.
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Smoking
Smoking is one of the lead causes of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, which affects your vision as you age. Age-related macular degeneration is damage to your retina and affects the sharp, central vision. Age-related macular degeneration or AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 50 years.
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Not taking breaks from the screen.
If your eyes feel tired and fatigued all the time, it means that you are not taking enough breaks while staring at your smartphone or computer screen. The blue light coming from the screens strains your eyes, and you don’t blink as often. The decrease in the blinking rate reduces tear production, due to which your eyes dry up, and you feel tired. There is evidence that proves that staring at screens can slowly lead to irreversible deterioration of the retina. Also, unlubricated tired eyes can cause a headache.
