How to avoid unnecessary eye damage

How to avoid unnecessary eye damage

How to avoid unnecessary eye damage

 

 

Eyes are amazing organs. Not only do they help us to see and navigate the world around us, they are also helpful in making connections with others. Though our eyes can do a lot for us, they also need to be protected. There are many things that can cause eye damage, so it’s important to be diligent about making good choices that will protect them from avoidable problems in the future.

 

Here are some tips on avoiding unnecessary eye damage:

 

 

Wear Your Sunglasses

Sunglasses are stylish accessories for summer, but they are also excellent tools for protecting your eyes from UV rays. Eye problems like macular degeneration and cataracts can be the result of the sun affecting how an eye ages. However, it’s not just in the summer time that you should worry about bringing along a pair of sunglasses. The sun reflecting off the snow can also cause eye damage, as can the sun bouncing off water or glass.

Though UV rays are something you think about the most in the summer, it’s best to be aware of UV rays all year long. Also note, if your eyes are strained from the sun, your pet’s eyes and children’s eyes are as well, so make sure you’re protecting the whole family from UV rays.

 

 

Take Breaks from Your Screens

We tend to spend a lot of time on our computer or phone screens during the day. However, screens can cause unnecessary eye damage. It may be hard to avoid screens often, especially if you work in front of a computer screen, but it’s good practice to take breaks from your screens during the day.

There are two big concerns with a lot of screen time on the eyes. One is computer eye strain which can cause your eyes to feel dry, watery, and tired.

The other is blue light, which may lead to macular degeneration and can cause tired eyes as well. Though there are plenty of myths about blue light, such as LED lights emitting blue light, there are other blue light facts that are true, such as blue light from screens negatively impacting sleep. For this reason, it’s best to take frequent breaks from screen viewing throughout the day.

 

 

Don’t Sleep in Your Contacts

There are some contact lenses that allow you to sleep in them for an extended period of time, but otherwise you should practice responsible contact care by taking them out each night.

Sleeping with contact lenses in can put you at risk for a corneal abrasion due to your contacts drying out your eyes, and it can lead to eye irritation from a lack of moisture and cleansing. The biggest concern is the added risk of infection as bacteria builds up under your lenses. This can lead to eye ulcers and serious complications that can lead to vision loss.

Not only should you take your contacts out each night, make sure you’re cleaning them properly as well. If you are concerned about contact cleanliness, you can also choose daily lenses that you toss at the end of each day.

 

 

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

It’s always a great idea to work toward maintaining a healthy lifestyle by eating right, exercising, and staying on top of your overall health and wellness. That’s not just to better your long-term health, but also to better your eye health.

Believe it or not, your lifestyle can affect your eyes just like it can affect many other organs in your body. A poor diet and lack of exercise can lead to diabetes, which can cause eye problems. In fact, blurry eyesight is one of the signs of diabetes.

For this reason, and many others, it’s best to be diligent about your lifestyle choices in order to avoid any of the negative effects like diabetes that can be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. Be especially mindful of refined sugar and genetically modified foods while remembering to eat food high in fiber and healthy fats. Taking walking breaks throughout the day can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle while also providing a break from your computer screen as well.

 

 

Be Careful About Cosmetics

Eye shadow, eye liner, and mascara are just a few cosmetics that are applied around a person’s eye. Though the end result is often beautiful, it’s best to be careful about cosmetics and how they are used in order to avoid any needless eye damage. For one, it’s important not to share any eye makeup with others to prevent the spread of any bacteria.

Our eye lashes, tear ducts, and eyebrows can all carry germs, and it’s important not to spread those germs. It’s also important to pay attention to the expiration dates on your cosmetics. They often say “6M” or “12M” on the label. That means you should toss the bottle after six months or 12 months, respectively.

If you have especially sensitive eyes and you find that cosmetics cause your eyes to tear, turn red, or itchy, you may look at hypoallergenic cosmetics meant for sensitive eyes. You should also be careful about not injuring your eye with your eye pencil or mascara, as that can cause a painful abrasion.

Eyes are amazing and resilient organs, but it’s up to us to make the best decisions for our long term eye health. Pay attention to any eye issues you encounter, visit your eye doctor each year, and take precautions to avoid any needless eye damage. Keep a pair of sunglasses on you, put your phone down every now and again, keep your contacts clean, make healthy lifestyle choices, and throw away expired eye makeup. That way, you can keep you eyes as healthy as possible.

 

 

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