Six everyday things that may be harming your eyesight
Despite relying on our vision for everything from navigation to entertainment, it’s easy to forget how fragile our eyesight can be. In day-to-day life, we regularly encounter potential threats to the wellbeing of our eyes. By learning how to protect yourself, you can lower the risk of eye disease and vision loss.
Here are six things that may cause harm in the long run:
1. Your Computer Screen
Looking at your computer monitor for too long can cause dry eyes, eyestrain, blurry vision, trouble focusing at a distance and headaches. To avoid these problems, follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, focus your eyes at something 20 feet away and hold your gaze for 20 seconds.
2. Your Eye Drops
Allergy sufferers know over-the-counter eye drops can offer great relief. But when these products are overused, they can actually worsen the symptoms you’re hoping to treat, and even cause rebound redness, making your eyes immune to eye drop’s healing properties. Use them sparingly!
3. Your Exercise Habits
Regular exercise benefits your eyes by improving blood flow, which
Eyecare Trust asserts can lower blood pressure and benefit the optic nerve. A growing number of evidence suggests that 30 minutes of exercise on five days a week can help control glaucoma and ocular hypertension and slow the progress of diabetes.
4. Your Contacts and Eye Makeup
Both require proper handling. Be sure to wash off all makeup and take out your contacts before going to sleep. It’s also important to wash your hands and clean the environment, tools and containers regularly.
5. Your Late Nights
Lack of sleep can have an effect on how your eyes look, feel and work. Essilor Laboratories of America warns that not catching enough Z’s can even lead to rare eye disorders such as Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (AION), which can deteriorate vision over time.
6. Your Weight
Your vision changes as you age through age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Individuals with a high body mass index have a higher risk of developing this condition earlier and more severely, in addition to glaucoma and diabetes.
How to care for your eyes.
Regular eye examinations are crucial to maintaining good health. You should visit your eye doctor every two years if you are under 60 years and yearly once you are older. These visits can help notify you of potential problems early and reveal if you are at risk for eye disease.
By David Modica | Published August 10, 2016
