Your eyes are your most prized possession, so why are so many people not looking after them like they would their general health?
Your eyes are your most prized possession, so why are so many people not looking after them like they. What many people don’t know is that common everyday habits are contributing to poor vision and in some cases sight loss. The good news is that these activities are avoidable and whilst they will help keep your eyes happy, it’s still important to attend regular eye tests-yes that’s twice a year! Let’s go through some of the most common offences. How many are you guilty of?
1. Forgetting your sunglasses:
We know that most people want to wear sunglasses to make a fashion statement but their main purpose is to block out harmful UV rays. Excessive exposure to UV rays can lead to cataracts (clouding of the lens). Approximately 30% of people aged 65 and older have a visually impairing cataract in one or both eyes. Wearing 100% UV protective sun glasses can reduce your chance of needing cataracts surgery later in life. Other damages from unprotected UV exposure include eye burn, eye growths and eye cancer. With brands such as Ray-Ban, you can protect your eyes whilst looking and feeling great, so please don’t leave them at home!
2. Spending too much time looking at screens:
Computer vision syndrome (CVS) may sound like something from a sci-fi movie, but it’s becoming a common problem due to the amount of time people spend looking at screens. Laptops, tablets, e-readers, phones, and TVs are all culprits. Research shows that when looking at a screen you blink 60% less, distressing the protective layer of your eye and causing moisture to evaporate. This results in your eyes feeling dry, uncomfortable and irritated. If you suffer from ‘screen eyes’ try blinking slowly ten times every twenty minutes to restore moisture levels. You may also be familiar with the 20-20-20 rule, which recommends looking at something every 20 minutes, 20 feet away, for 20 seconds.
3. Swimming with contact lenses:
Beware- swimming pools and contact lenses are not friends! The water in pools and in our oceans contains bacteria and viruses which attach themselves to your lenses, increasing your chance of nasty eye infections. Not only this, but the water changes the natural shape of the contact lens, causing blurry vision and not to mention irritation. The good news is that prescription swimming goggles are available and will eliminate the risk of contamination.
4. Wearing old mascara:
We’ve all heard horror stories about people losing their vision due to not taking their mascara off at night. Although leaving old mascara on isn’t a leading cause of eye damage or sight loss, it still increases the risk of infection; this is due to the build-up of bacteria on the mascara wand. It’s recommended to replace your mascara every three months at the very maximum. If irritation is caused refrain from wearing it until the eye has completely healed. If problems persist, seek advice from an eye health specialist.
5. Smoking:
Lung cancer and heart disease are concerns that are often raised when talking about the harmful effects of smoking, but what many people don’t know, is that smoking can lead to vision loss. Smoking doubles the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD); one of the UK’s leading causes of sight loss and cataracts. Although treatment options for cataracts are available, the options to treat AMD are extremely limited. Additional to this, smoking can cause glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and Dry Eye Syndrome.
6. Skipping eye tests:
Last but in no means least, we have avoiding the Optometrist; this is the very worst eye crime! In fact, a quarter of the UK adult population are not having their eyes tested every 2 years. And because of this, an astounding 4 million people in the UK have been predicted to be living with sight loss by the year 2050. Eye tests can detect issues other than visual impairments, such as dementia, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and tumours. This is why it is vital to get your eyes tested regularly even if you feel that your vision is fine.
Have you considered Lens Replacement Surgery?
If visual impairments are getting in the way of your everyday life or reducing your quality of life, vision correction specialists Ultralase are happy to talk you through your options. Please contact them on 0800 988 6390.
(Article source: 50 Connect)
