7 ways you are hurting your eyes without even knowing
We all know excessive screen time can hurt our eyes. But apart from this most obvious reason, there are several other things we do that put our eyes at risk.
Eye health always takes a backseat in front of other health issues, which should not be the case. Here are several ways we put our eyes at risk every day and what we can do about it.
Not wearing sunglasses
We all know that wearing sunglasses is important when you are basking in the sun. But it's equally important to wear sunglasses, regardless of the weather and season. Long-term exposure to the UV rays from the sun can put you at risk of eye disease, including cataracts, macular degeneration, eye growth and some rare forms of eye cancer, says American Academy of Ophthalmology.
What you can do: Wear sunglasses that block 99 to 100 per cent UVA and UVB radiation. Choose an oversized frame for more coverage.
Not putting sunscreen on your eyelids
This might sound absurd at first but you need to carefully put sunscreen on your eyelids too to protect them from the sun. Not applying sunscreen on the eyelids can lead to cancer of the eyelids.
Apply sunscreen on the eyelids but make sure it doesn't get into your eyes. Mineral formulas made with zinc and titanium dioxide can be a good choice as these are for sensitive skin.
You rub your eyes often
Rubbing your eyes occasionally won't cause any harm but rubbing them constantly can lead to the weakening of the cornea and keratoconus, distortion of the cornea.
This also causes your eyelids to lose elasticity over time. Rubbing your eyes often can increase your risk of stretching the very delicate eyelid tissues. This can lead to droopy eyelid.
You spend too much time staring at the screen
Due to the lockdown, we all are glued to the screen more than ever. But if you don't give your eyes frequent breaks and rest, you are clearly over straining them.
Looking at the screen puts more strain on your eyes as you blink less while looking at the screen. Looking at the screen lowers your blink rate by a third to a half and dry out your eyes.
What you can do: Your screen should be 25 inches away. Adjust your screen brightness such that it doesn't strain your eyes.
Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Take screen breaks every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
You sleep in your contact lenses
Whether you are too exhausted or just want to take a quick nap in the middle of the day, make sure to take out your contact lenses first. Sleeping in contact lenses blocks oxygen from your eye's cornea, which can lead to neovascularization, says the National Sleep Foundation.
This can cause inflammation and prevent you from wearing contacts in the future.
Sleeping in your contacts can lead to red-eye, ulcer in your eyes and eye infection. It can even lead to microscopic tears, which raises your risk of bacteria entering your eye and the development of conjunctivitis.
Your eyes are super dry
Even if you don't have any vision problems, you still must get your eyes tested regularly, which can help detect the problem at the earliest stage, if any.
If you don't have any vision problems, you must see the eye doctor every five to 10 years in your 20s-30s, every two to four years in between 40-54 years, every one to three years from age 55-64 and every one to two years after the age of 65.
You don't wear goggles when you swim
While swimming, the chlorine and other chemicals found in the pool water can wash away your tear film, if you don't wear goggles.
The tear film is a moist and thin layer of tears that coats the surface of your eyes and keeps them smooth, moist and clear.
Frequently swimmers may develop dry eyes if that can lead to blurry vision. Not just chlorine, any lingering bacteria in the water can leave your eyes red and itchy.
What you can do: You must wear goggles while swimming and wash eyes with clean water after swimming to get chlorine and other chemicals off your eyelashes and eyelids. You can also use lubricating eye drops before and after swimming.