We know that staying fit and healthy is important, but taking care of our eyes is often overlooked. To ensure your vision remains clear and healthy, here are some bad eye habits to lose in 2023.
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Leaving the Sunglasses at Home
We all like to look cool in the sun, but sunglasses are more than just a fashion accessory. Ultraviolet rays from the sun can cause damage to our eyes over time and even increase our risks of developing cataracts or other eye problems. Make sure you always bring your sunglasses with you when you go outdoors so that you can keep your eyes protected.
Staring at Your Devices
We all use our phones and computers more than ever these days, but too much screen time can be harmful to our eyes. The intense blue light emitted from electronic devices causes eyestrain, headaches and fatigue.
To reduce the risk of damaging your eyes due to extended device use, practice the 20/20/20 rule. This rule suggests that after twenty minutes of device use, you look away from the screen and stare at an object twenty feet away for twenty seconds. Doing this regularly can help reduce your device-related eyestrain significantly.
Here are some other positive device habits for your eyes:
- Reduce glare: You can reduce the amount of blue light your eyes get by investing in anti-reflective glasses or anti-glare screens for your devices.
- Choose larger text sizes: The smaller the text size, the harder it is for our eyes to focus on a screen. Making sure text sizes are larger can remove some of the eye strain associated with reading.
- Take regular breaks: Give your eyes a break by regularly taking 5-minute breaks away from screens. This will give your eyes a chance to relax and get some rest.
- Change the lighting: Make sure there is adequate lighting in your environment and that it is not too bright. Too much light can cause eye strain, so adjust the lighting to a comfortable level for your eyes.
- Change the brightness: Set the brightness of your screen to a level that is comfortable for your eyes. Too much or too little brightness can cause eye strain and fatigue.
Rubbing Your Eyes Too Much
Eye rubbing is a common habit, especially when tired. But rubbing your eyes can actually cause more harm than help. It can damage the delicate tissue and nerve endings around your eyes, leading to irritation, inflammation, and even infection. While it might feel rewarding in the moment, it is not worth the potential long-term consequences.
Not Seeing a Professional
Sadly, many of us neglect our eye health until there is a problem. We should all be seeing an optometrist in Melbourne for regular check-ups to ensure that our vision remains healthy and any potential problems are detected early. This is especially important if you have an existing condition such as glaucoma, astigmatism, or other eye diseases. Even if your vision is fine, regular check-ups are still important to ensure that everything is as it should be.
Smoking
Smoking has long been known to be bad for your health, and the same goes for your eyes. Smoking increases your risk of developing certain types of eye cancer, as well as age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. It can also lead to dry eyes and increase the risk of inflammation and infection in the eyes. So, if you want to make sure your vision is healthy, quitting smoking should be your top priority.