The eyes are our primary source of vision. However, just like other body parts, they too are susceptible to various infections. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) report, nearly 2.2 billion people worldwide suffer from vision impairment issues.
Over the years, the number of people suffering from various eye problems has increased, and more or less, our lifestyle choices and certain bad habits worsen the situation.
4 Habits that Trigger Eye-Related Problems
If you’re wondering how are our daily habits and choices related to eye problems, scroll down to read the top four habits that affect our eyes the most:
Over the years, we have constantly exposed ourselves to blue light, and the intrusion of tech gadgets into our personal lives has further accelerated the overall screen time for everyone. Unfortunately, this constant exposure to blue light happens to be one of the primary causes of eye pain across the board and triggers problems like digital eye strain, blurry vision, and headache in all age groups.
Also read: Guide to Dealing With Computer Vision Syndrome
According to experts, to minimise various eye problems, we can leverage the following preventive measures:
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Adhere to the 20-20-20 rule: After viewing the screen for 20 minutes, look at any random object 20 feet away for 20 seconds minimum, & then relook at your laptop/PC screen.
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Prefer glasses with blue block lenses & anti-glare filters: If your job involves working steadily on a laptop for 3-4 hours, you must purchase computer glasses with anti-glare filters or ones that block blue light significantly. You can also add an anti-glare filter screen to your system for added protection.
Constantly rubbing eyes with dirty hands
Our hands touch various things throughout the day and pick up bacteria, viruses, dirt, and other harmful substances. This may look trivial and harmless, but it has long-lasting effects.
We tend to casually rub our eyes whenever we feel irritation or when our eyes are strained. But, in most cases, when we don’t wash our hands regularly, we put our eyes at risk of experiencing issues like corneal abrasion, dark circles, and others.
Hence, we must protect our eyes from harmful substances and wash our hands often. Doing so helps us avoid unwanted eye infections, keeps us and our eyes healthy, and significantly improves our vision.
Never sleep or shower in contact lenses
Wearing contact lenses is no longer a fashion trend but a necessity for many. However, if you're in the habit of sleeping with your contact lenses, you're putting your eyes at great risk. According to experts, it can unknowingly trigger an eye infection and lead to long-term complications due to the lack of proper oxygen supply.
When you shut your eyes with lenses on, you invite bacteria & other germs to breed beneath your contact lens, giving rise to common eye problems. So, removing your contact lenses before hitting the bed is always a good practice.
Even while you shower, you must avoid wearing lenses as the combination is fatal. It's also because bacteria and other germs present in the water can harm your cornea and cause a serious eye infection.
Not wearing sunglasses while stepping out
Most of us, while stepping out, never forget to apply a sunscreen lotion to protect our skin. But, on the contrary, the count of folks using sunglasses to safeguard the eyes is quite low. According to experts, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light exposes our eyes to harmful eye conditions like cataracts, macular degeneration, and cancer, among others.
So, when purchasing a new pair of glasses, read their labels carefully and opt for ones that provide 100% protection against UVA and UVB rays.
The Bottom Line
These are just a few bad habits that put your eyes at tremendous risk. So, tread your steps carefully and protect your eyes in the best possible manner. If you're feeling a constant itch in your eyes or experiencing other problems, consult an optometrist today and undertake a proper eye infection treatment.
According to experts, you must get your eye test done at least once every two years. So if it's been more than two years, schedule your next eye test here and let our experts help you eliminate eye infections and other ocular problems.
