Our eyes are essential organs enabling us to perceive the world around us, but they are at risk for harm and vision impairment, sometimes permanently, from multiple sources. It’s imperative that we begin to recognize the dangers to eye health and take steps to safeguard our eyesight.
Here is a summary of the 9 different things that will damage your eyes, how they affect your vision, and ways to avoid them.
1. Over-Exposure to the Sun (UV Rays)The first and most common cause of preventable eye damage is that UV rays from the sun damage your eyes. Overexposure can result in painful photokeratitis which blisters your cornea, resulting in a condition engrained in your cornea.UV rays can damage all parts of your eye, including cornea, lens, and retina. When you over-expose your eyes to harmful UV rays, you increase the possibility of developing cataracts, macular degeneration, and pterygium (a growth on the white part of the eye)Protection tip- Whenever you are outside, wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection. The best thing you can do is to wear a hat with a brim and stay in the shade if you can!
2. Digital Eye StrainOur reliance on digital devices (smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc.) continues to be on the rise, and because of this, digital eye strain is also becoming more common. Eyestrain can include a mix of symptoms such as dry eyes, blurry vision, headaches, neck pain, and more. The blue light from screens may also contribute to your discomfort.Protective Tip: For every 20 minutes of looking at a screen, look at something 20 feet away for a minimum of 20 seconds. Change and adjust the brightness of your screens. Make sure you’re looking at each screen at a proper distance, and with a proper postur.
3. SmokingSmoking is dangeroussty to lungs, but to the egos as well. proliferates the chances of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, and optic nerve-neglect. Xmoking can exacerbate dry eyes, a decrease in tear acts, caused by an element found in the cigarrete chemical that can also damage blood vessels in complacent. Protection Tip: Giving up smoking. In fact, smoke discontinued smoking harming ,seeking help from other health professional if you smoke and considering stopping smoking for your general health (your eye health included).
4_ bad NutritionA poor diet low in critical vitamins and minerals could harm eye health. Some of the crucial nutrients for healthy eyesight are vitamins A, C, and E, and omega-3 fatty acids. A lack of these nutrients not only increases our risk of night blindness, but also increases our chances of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. Additionally, diets high in sugar can lead to diabetic retinopathy, a diabetes-related retinal condition.Protection Tips: An excellent guideline to follow for eye health is a balanced diet, which generally means eating foods high in leafy greens, fruits, and fatty fish. The eye-healthy foods would be carrots, spinach, kale, or salmon.
5_ Eye InjuriesAccidents happen every day and when they do, eye injuries are one of the most common causes of vision loss. Physical trauma can occur to the eyes when we are hit by flying debris, when engaging in a sport, or simply by being in an accident. The type of damage that can occur from trauma can be a corneal scratch, retinal detachments, and even internal bleeding. If severe trauma occurs and it is not treated promptly, it can lead to permanent blindness.Protection Tip: When engaging in activities that can lead to an eye injury (specific sports, home improvement, working with hazardous materials) it is always advisable to wear protective eyewear.
6. Lack of Hygiene (Touching Eyes with Dirty Hands) We have bacteria and viruses all over our hands, and if we touch our eyes with dirty hands, we can transfer bacteria and viruses to our eyes. This can cause conjunctivitis (pink eye), corneal infections, and even worse conditions like keratitis, which means the cornea is inflamed. Protection advice: You always want to wash your hands and try to avoid touching your eyes – especially when your hands are dirty. Remember to disinfect your contact lenses and contact lens case often.
7. Excessive Use of Contact LensesWhile contact lenses are a convenient alternative to glasses, incorrect use can cause major eye problems. Wearing the contacts too long, using them incorrectly, not cleaning them properly, or wearing expired lenses can cause dry eyes, corneal ulcers, infections, and ultimately, decreased vision.Protective Tip: Follow your eye care professional’s instructions on wear time with contact lenses, cleaning, and disposal. Don’t forget to remove lenses when you sleep (unless lenses are worn overnight).
8- Health Conditions – Diabetes and HypertensionHealth conditions, and chronic diseases specifically, can harm eye health. Diabetic retinopathy is when blood sugar levels are high for extended periods of time. This increases the chances of harmful blood vessels damaging the retina, possibly causing visual impairment. Hypertension could also impact eye health; the retina can develop retinal vein occlusion and optic neuropathy both have potential into blindness if not treated.Tips for Protection: Keep track of the blood sugar and blood pressure levels regularly and work with your health care provider to manage your health conditions. This can reduce your risk of complications that will potentially impact your eyes.
9. Sleep Deprivation We all know how important a good night of sleep is for our well-being in general, and your eye health is no exception! When you choose to sleep less, chronic sleep deprivation will lead to dry eyes, eye strain and more importantly, elevated eye pressure, which are all considered risk factors for developing glaucoma. You eye needs a break to rest and rehydrate and they can’t function well without it. Protective Advice: Getting 7-8 hours of sleep will provide your eyes with the opportunity to rest, regenerate and maintain optimal visual ability.
Conclusion
Your eyes are are one of the most precious assets you have, and should be at the top of your mind when considering health initiatives moving forward. By understanding the principles of protecting your eye health to avoid any risks or damage to them in the first place, you are that much closer to clarifying your vision for the future. The keys to preserving you vision is to commit to a healthy lifestyle, frequent maintenance. It is also important to build protective habits into your life. If you’ve noticed any changes in your eyesight, talk to an eye-care professional regarding your vision and be sure to ask for appropriate interventions.