LIFESTYLES OR HABITS THAT CAN HARM YOUR EYES
Not wearing sunglasses
Too much exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is a real threat to vision. It can damage the eye’s surface tissues. Cataracts and eye cancers can eventually form from too much UV exposure. Luckily, wearing 100% UV or UV400 protection sunglasses is an effective way to protect your eyes while enjoying the outdoors.
Tattooing your eyeball
Eyeball tattooing can cause several serious complications, including infections from the needle or ink, inflammation of the eye, retinal detachments, or blindness. For a safer way to change the appearance of your eye, see your eye doctor about getting a prescription for colored contact lenses.
Being a picky eater
Severe dietary deficiencies can lead to poor vision. In these rare cases, a lack of vitamins can damage the optic nerve. A colorful plate full of leafy green vegetables, orange-colored vegetables and citrus, fruits, beans and other nutrient-rich foods are best for healthy eyes.
Smoking
Cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma are the eye diseases linked to smoking. Quitting smoking is one of the best lifestyle changes you can make to protect your eyes.
Dangerous home remedies
Don’t fall for misleading home remedies! Whether it is breast milk or urine in the eye as a cure for pink eye, frozen meat on a black eye, or another cure trending on social media, these substances could carry bacteria and cause eye infections.
Mistaking glue or other substances for eyedrops
People mix up their medications often. Small bottles tend to look like eye drops, and can result in anything from slight discomfort to glued shut eyelids. Superglue in the eye is a common mistake and can cause potentially vision-threatening complications, such as corneal abrasions. Make sure your eye drops are clearly labeled and kept separate from other medications and household appliances.
Ignoring your existing health conditions
You may not know that your high blood pressure or other health conditions have anything to do with your eyes. Systemic health conditions that are not managed well can often lead to changes in vision. In fact, diabetic eye disease is one of the most common causes of blindness, high blood sugar levels cause blood vessels in the eyes to leak fluid.
Playing sports and games without protective eyewear
Sports and certain toys can cause serious eye injuries without the proper safety gear. Retinal detachments, bleeding inside the eye, rupture of the eye are all common eye injuries among athletes and could be prevented with appropriate eyewear.
Not wearing protective eyewear at work
If you work in companies that use chemicals, protective eyewear is a requirement. Most of the eye injuries that happen in the workplace, more than 90% of these injuries could be avoided by wearing protective eyewear.
Delaying medical care after an eye injury
Eye injuries sometimes don’t seem very serious. But not getting the right treatment may mean losing your vision. Don’t delay in getting medical attention right away if you obtain any eye injury.
Not taking medications as instructed
Some serious eye diseases require ongoing treatments. People with glaucoma, for example, use prescription eye drops. Patients sometimes forget to put in eye drops or do not put them in correctly. This can have serious consequences on the effectiveness of your treatment. Make sure to follow instructions and talk to your doctor if you are having any difficulty doing so.
Swimming in contact lenses
Swimming with contacts in can cause bacteria to get in the eye and puts you at high risk for an infection. Try wearing prescription swimming goggles instead.
Forgetting to clean your contacts
Not cleaning contact lenses well is another way people can get eye infections. Make sure you are washing your hands, storing contacts properly, and using cleaning solution for disinfection. Talk to your eye care professional about more detailed care instructions.
Wearing daily contacts for weeks, months … or years!
Daily wear contacts are contact lenses made for one-day use only. You wear these lenses when you are awake and dispose them at the end of the day before sleeping. Wearing contacts for longer than instructed can threaten your vision.
Not going for regular eye exams
Regular visits to an eye specialist can help identify and diagnose vision problems and eye diseases at an early stage. Some eye conditions often have no warning signs until there is permanent vision loss and detecting them early can make a large difference to your quality of life. Early detection can lead to preventive measures being taken which can help ensure that your eyesight remains problem-free for years to come.
