5 Regular Habits Harming Your Eyes
Our eyes are sensitive, as well as one of the most complex and vital organs in your body. TWhen you take good care of your eyes, you can help lower the risk of developing vision problems later on in life. Consuming a balanced diet and exercising daily can not only improve your metabolism but also helps maintain healthy eyes.
At the same time, you can try to keep your vision sharp for as long as possible by quitting unhealthy habits., To help, here is a list of five everyday practices that can potentially harm your eyes:
Rubbing Your Eyes
When your eyes itch, rubbing them vigorously can provide immediate relief; however, it is not the right thing to do. 1 Rubbing your eyes may do more harm than good to your eyes. By rubbing your eyes, you spread bacteria, which can lead to eye infections.
Additionally, when you rub your eyes, your cornea, and the delicate blood vessels around your eyes can get damaged. Instead, wash your eyes properly with clean water and try to blink rapidly (such as scratching your eyes) or using prescribed eye drops to rinse any dust or dirt that might have entered your eyes.
2. Skipping Your Eye Exams
Whether you like wearing contact lenses, or spectacles, or have perfectly healthy eyes, annual eye examinations are a must.2 Regular eye examinations by a qualified optometrist help identify and treat any potential eye problems in their initial stage itself. Thus, even if you think that you may not have an eyesight problem, you should give your optometrist a visit whenever you feel any issues in your eyes.
Overwearing your Contact Lenses than the recommended replacement time period
If you have been accustomed to wearing contact lenses for some time now, you must be aware of the fact that you must never use old or expired contact lenses. 3 All contact lenses have a recommended replacement period, and wearing contact lenses beyond the recommended replacement period can cause severe eye infections or problems.
Furthermore, the longer you stretch your contact lenses, the more bacteria can accumulate in your eyes. In case you are not much comfortable cleaning and maintaining your contact lenses, you can consult with your optometrist and go for daily or monthly disposable contact lenses.
4. Smoking Tobacco
Smoking is not just bad for your eyes, but also your overall health. 4 Research has shown that smoking increases the risk of cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye syndrome, and macular degeneration associated with aging. Take action to stop smoking immediately and speak to your doctor if you need help quitting.
5. Excessive Use Of Digital Devices
Approximately 60 million people suffer from CVS worldwide. Spending prolonged periods using digital devices can cause computer vision syndrome (CVS), 5, which results in decreased productivity and overall wellbeing. Yes, those long hours you spend using your tablets, laptops, and smartphones can cause eye strain and dry eyes, potentially damaging your eyesight.
Fortunately, some things can be done to alleviate the condition by changing your habits. 6 Optometrists suggest that you follow the 20-20-20 Rule to exercise your eyes. At an interval of every 20 minutes, you just need to look away 20 feet for 20 seconds.
With an increase in digital device usage, the blinking rate of our eyes has decreased to nearly 66%, which causes the tear film around the eyes to dry up, leading to eye irritation and dry eyes. 7 At Bausch+Lomb, our Ultra range of Contact lenses are designed with MoistureSeal Technology that prevents lens dehydration by retaining nearly 95% of moisture and is the perfect choice of contact lenses for those who use digital devices daily.
What's more? The Bausch+Lomb Ultra Contact Lenses are monthly disposable contact lenses, which can be worn for upto 16 hours in a day. With our Bausch+Lomb Ultra Contact Lenses' thin design, you get the most comfortable and precise vision acuity. You should consult your optometrist and get yourself a suitable pair of contact lenses that help prevent dry eyes and offer an exceptional user experience.
To conclude, change your habits that may harm your body and eye health, and start to diligently follow your prescribed eyewear schedule to avoid any eye problems. Here's to a healthier and happier you!
Sources:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279584/
[2] https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/eye-exams-101
[3] https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/healthy-vision/contact-lenses
[4] https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/smokers
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4784392/
[6] https://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/caring-for-your-vision/protecting-your-vision/computer-vision-syndrome
[7] Data on file Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
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