The eyes are the most vital organs of our body and having normal eyesight is indeed a blessing to you. It is essential for you to maintain good eye health to protect the eyes from vision loss since it can interfere with your overall quality of life. You must also contact a reputed eye specialist in Siliguri like Dr. Swarup Kr. Roy immediately if you experience any symptoms of eye problems to get early intervention and stop it from further progression.
In this digital era, we are continuously exposing our eyes to computers and mobile phones and this is definitely taking a huge toll on your eyes. There are also various everyday habits we follow that may harm the eyes. Consulting a doctor will help you to understand the unhealthy habits that you must avoid to protect your eyes from permanent damage.
Below Are Some Of The Everyday Habits That Can Interfere With Your Eye Health
1. Missing annual eye examination
One of the most harmful habits that most people have is to miss their regular eye examinations. In our daily schedule, we often ignore visiting an eye clinic annually and this can increase the likelihood of experiencing severe eye damage. Most people only indulge in eye examination when they suffer from serious vision loss or symptoms of eye disorders.
It is always important to schedule a comprehensive eye exam because as you age, your eyes become more prone to develop serious complications such as age-related degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma. You should always know that early detection is the key to the successful management of severe eye disorders that may showcase no noticeable symptoms at first.
2. Long hours of screen time
It is always indicated by an ophthalmologist that long hours of screen time are the main reason behind serious eye damage. Working in front of the computer for long hours can cause digital eye strain which can cause various symptoms such as blurry eyes, dryness, double vision, eye irritation, headache, and severe eye pain.
If this strain is left untreated for a long time then you may have high risks of developing corneal ablation, eye inflammation, and vision problems. To decrease the chances of complications due to screen timing, you can reduce blue light exposure and brightness levels. You can also maintain a good posture to control excessive eye strain.
3. Exposure to ultraviolet rays
Staying in a warm country increases the exposure towards sunlight and harmful ultraviolet rays. Continuous exposure to UV rays without any protection not only decreases your vision but also increases the chances of macular degeneration, corneal damage, and cataracts. Additionally, the harmful rays can damage all the structures of your eyes including the eyelids.
UV rays have been found to be the leading cause of accentuated skin furrows, wrinkles, dryness, loss of elasticity, and sagging. To reduce UV damage and oxidative stress associated with it, it is always recommended to wear good-quality sunglasses. This protective measure will also save you from various types of eye cancers.
4. Rubbing eyes
To get temporary relief from itchiness and irritability associated with eye allergies, we have the habit of rubbing our eyes. However, excessive rubbing can damage our eyes while enhancing the likelihood of infections and injury due to minute scratches. Keratoconus, corneal thinning, and vision impairment are some of the eye conditions that can also be associated with rubbing eyes.
If you experience any itchiness on the eyes then it is always recommended to contact a doctor or wash your eyes thoroughly with clean water. It is also important for you to sanitize or wash your hands properly before touching your eyes which will help in reducing the risks of infections.
5. Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking
We all know that alcohol consumption and smoking have various negative impacts on our bodies. However, these unhealthy habits can also be a contributing cause of eye damage since the tobacco present in cigarettes can lead to a burning sensation in the eyes and an increased chance of cataracts.
Additionally, alcohol consumption also has been associated with vision issues, potential blindness, rapid eye movement, and double vision. If you don’t control the consumption of these harmful substances then the toxins found in it can gradually move you towards permanent vision loss. Herein, the carcinogens present in tobacco can also enhance your chances of suffering from eye cancer.
6. Unhygienic handling of contact lenses
If you have vision problems then contact lenses can be one of the safe and hassle-free options to ensure excellent vision. It can offer you confidence and give you a natural look while addressing most of the vision issues. However, you must always be aware of the fact you must not wear old contact lenses or share your lenses with others.
It is also advised by an eye specialist that you must avoid wearing the lenses for long hours as it can enhance the probability of developing an eye infection. It is important for you to maintain proper contact lens handling hygiene such as washing your hands before inserting or removing the lenses and taking out the lenses before sleeping.
7. Overuse of eye drops
Eye dryness is a common condition that one can experience due to a dry environment, various illnesses, or poor blinking habits. One of the best treatments that can offer you temporary and soothing relief from the distressing symptoms of dry eyes is eye drops. However, if you’re using the eye drops excessively then it can damage your eyes by constricting the blood vessels of the eyes.
This in turn will lead to eye redness, itchiness, and increased dependency towards it. Some of the symptoms that may indicate overuse of the eye drops are excessive eye watering and blunt vision. This is why you must always consult the doctor about the dosage of the eye drops before starting it.
8. Wearing expired eye products
Just like expired food products, it is also essential for you to stop using expired eye products. This is because using expired eye products can expose your eyes to harmful bacteria that have built inside the bottle. These bacteria can transfer into your eyes and can lead to significant damage and eye infections.
Among all the eye products, mascara is one of the most harmful products that must not be used after the expiration date. Even if you have to throw away the half-full bottle, you should do it to save your eyes from harmful damage that may interfere with your vision.
9. Not using safety goggles
If your occupation involves working in an environment surrounded by debris and dust then you may have a high chance of experiencing corneal ablations and eye injuries. Some people may avoid wearing safety goggles provided by the company in such areas due to the discomfort.
However, this is one of the worst habits that you must avoid to ensure eye health. Wearing safety goggles will not only protect your eyes from minor or major injuries but it will also save you from permanent blindness. Start using goggles now to save your eyes from direct trauma.
To ensure eye health, you must book an appointment with a leading eye specialist in Siliguri near you immediately after experiencing any vision changes. You can also follow the 20-20-20 rule along with an active lifestyle and healthy diet to decrease eye strain, dryness, and other serious eye complications.
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