Avoidable blindness is a type of blindness that can be stopped or treated. If they could avoid it, no one in the world would knowingly lose their sight.
If you think about your health, many people do not think of eye care right away. You can hurt your eyes if you do not take care of them properly, but the things you do every day can have a big impact on your eye health.
This article talks about some common habits that can ruin your eyesight and, if not fixed, could lead to avoidable blindness in the worst cases. It is said that it is better to be safe than sorry.
Common Habits That Can Ruin Your Eyesight
Eye disease is becoming increasingly prevalent as the global population continues to grow. According to a report published in The Lancet, an estimated 895 million individuals worldwide may develop eye conditions by 2050. That represents a 150% increase in the next three decades.
If you are in your 20s or 30s, likely, you do not devote much time to considering eye disease or vision care. However, it is precisely at this moment that you should be aware of which of your activities are responsible for eye issues.
1. Staring at the screen for too long
When you stare at screens for long periods, your eyes may work too hard and blink less. At least 12 to 15 times a minute, you need to blink. Blinking helps keep the eyes from drying out by distributing fluid around them. Dry eyes can be very painful and are bad for your eye health.
You should limit your screen time and do these things to keep your eyes healthy and free of long-term eye pain and strain:
- Limit the use of bright screens in dark rooms and ensure that there is adequate lighting.
- Avoid holding your device in close range to your face. Maintain it at a comfortable distance of 20-22 inches.
- Rest your eyes from close-up viewing. Regularly look up from your device and scan the room.
- Sit comfortably when using screens for long periods. Comfort reduces body stress, which strains your eyes.
2. Smoking
Smoking not only gives you lung cancer and many other diseases in many parts of your body, but it also makes it harder for your body to feed and oxygenate tissues, including those in your eyes. You may be more likely to get cataracts and macular degeneration if you do this.
People who already have macular degeneration or are at risk for it are told by their doctors to stop smoking and eat more antioxidant-rich foods like salmon and tuna, fruits and berries, and green leafy vegetables. The chemicals that cause this disease can be cut down with these nutrients.
3. Wearing old makeup
The American Association of Ophthalmology says that makeup that is more than three months old shouldn’t be used on the eyes. To avoid getting an eye infection, you should always take off your makeup before bed.
It might not seem like makeup is bad for your eyes, but any makeup you put around your eyes does. When you put makeup around your eyes and on the edges of your eyelids, it should be hypoallergenic and not contain any harsh ingredients that are common in cheaper brands.
Doctors say that you should replace your eye makeup every three to four months because when you use your hands or makeup brushes to put it on, bacteria from your skin gets on it.
4. Self-medication
In any situation, self-medication is never a good idea and could lead to health problems. Even common eye drops should not be used too often because they can make irritation, redness, and even swelling worse.
5. Not wearing protective eyewear
Radiation and other harmful substances need to be kept away from our eyes. In the sun, you must wear sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays, goggles that block chlorine rays when you swim, and safety glasses when you work with tools like welding machines and play sports.
It is very important to protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays.First thing I tell my patients is that everyone, even kids, should wear sunglasses outside. To protect your eyes, you need to wear sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays. Polarized sunglasses are even better because they reduce glare, which can make your eyes tired and strain.
But not all sunglasses can protect you the same way. It is best to keep them in good shape. For some reason, scratched lenses no longer shield your eyes. Every so often, check your sunglasses to make sure they’re still in good shape. This way, they can fully shield your eyes from UV rays.
6. Eye Dryness
Many people have dry eye syndrome, and it gets worse with age. Keeping your eyes moist and smooth can help keep this from happening.
It’s important to do something about the pain in your eyes, whether they feel scratchy, irritated, dry, or like something is in them, even if it’s a foreign body sensation. If you don’t, damage can slowly happen on the surface of the eye. This damage can get worse over time, leading to symptoms like more dryness or pain. If this eye damage gets bad enough, it may even affect your ability to see.
The doctor says to use artificial tears or eye drops, which you can get at any drugstore, to protect the surface and keep the eye moist.
Conclusion
Not getting regular eye exams is the worst habit that puts you at the highest risk of going blind when you could have avoided it. A yearly eye exam is the best way to protect yourself from diseases that could damage your eyesight.
Also, signs of eye diseases like floaters, pain, redness, blurry or spotty vision, and so on should not be ignored. If there is a problem, someone who works in eye health should be called right away.