Many people experience vision problems, but many people do not know that those problems can sometimes be preventable. If you improve some of your daily habits, you can also help to improve your eye health or prevent some problems from happening or getting worse. Here are some common bad habits that can negatively impact your eyesight.
1. Too much screen time.
Screen time won't, as you might have heard, decrease your ability to see or make you need glasses. However, staring at a screen affects how much you blink, so people who have excess screen time can struggle with dry eyes. Dry eyes can increase your discomfort, make your eyes more sensitive to light, make it hard for you to ride a bike or do other activities that cause air to blow more over the surface of your eye, and reduce your ability to wear contacts comfortably. Try reducing your screen time and concentrating on blinking more often in order to give your eyes the tears they need to stay moist.
2. Avoiding your glasses.
Some people feel like they don't need to wear their glasses all the time, especially children and teens. However, your eyes and your vision develop by focusing light on the retina, which your brain then learns to interpret. When you don't wear your glasses, the rest of your eye may not develop properly. If you have been given prescription lenses, wear them to make sure you avoid improper vision development and other accidents that can come from poor depth perception. You will also feel more tired and experience headaches from eye strain.
3. Touching your eyes.
Some people touch their eyes when putting on makeup, when they are tired, or even just for fun. Your hands carry thousands of bacteria, and touching your eyes introduces the bacteria to the delicate membranes and tissues of your eyes. Infection is more likely, especially if you lick your finger before putting it in your eye. If you absolutely need to touch your eye, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
4. Not using sun protection.
Finally, many people don't realize the importance of wearing sunglasses. If you wear glasses or contacts, you should make sure you get a prescription pair of glasses to wear outdoors or get transition lenses. UV light exposure is one reason why people develop cancer in the eye.
For more information, see an eye doctor in your area, such as at Macomb Eye Care Specialists.
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