Vision is a vital sense that many people tend to neglect. While it’s normal for our eyes to lose their perfect vision due to aging, some practices or health conditions affect their health. It’s crucial to understand the things that can damage your eyes and cause vision loss because, in some cases, losing vision can be permanent.
People generally forget to take care of their eyes if they have never had any problems with them. But when the time comes that you start to notice signs of poor vision, such as headaches and double vision, that’s when you’ll realize how precious your eyes are.
Causes of Damaged Eyesight
Below are the common reasons for poor vision and eye health:
Aging
Aging is the number one factor that can deteriorate our eyesight. It’s the reason why older people develop cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Sadly, no one can stop aging, but corrective vision surgery can make a huge difference in slowing the progress and preventing vision loss.
UV Light
Our eyes can get damaged due to overexposure to UV rays from the sun. That is why you must practice wearing UV-protective sunglasses whenever you go out of the house, yes, even on cloudy days.
Excessive Screen Time
People spend a lot of time in front of the TV, computers, tablets, and smartphones, not realizing how too much screen time can damage their eyesight. Too much screen time causes dry eye and eye strain, resulting in poor vision.
Contact Lenses
Wearing contact lenses frequently can damage your eyesight. Many people leave their contacts in for far too long, while others do not even clean them properly before wearing them. Eye damage can also occur because contact lenses are in and out of the eye too often.
Diabetes
Diabetic eye disease can happen when a diabetic person does not manage diabetes. The good news is that you can prevent diabetic eye disease by having your eyes checked at least once a year, controlling your blood sugar, eating healthily, exercising regularly, and embracing a healthy lifestyle.
Too Much Alcohol
Excessive use of alcohol can also cause eye problems, directly and indirectly. Alcohol can even cause specific eye conditions like macular degeneration. So make sure to drink in moderation.
Overusing Eye Drops
Eye drops, regardless of the purpose, are not typically suitable for vision. These products affect the blood flow in your eye, which eventually causes damages in the long run.
Smoking
Smoking is not generally suitable for health, and it is particularly bad for eye health. Smoke can irritate and burn the eyes. Furthermore, the chemicals in tobacco have significant effects on the vision that can potentially trigger the development of cataracts even at a young age.
Dry Eyes
You can reduce the discomfort of dry eyes by using lubricating eye drops. However, many people buy eye drops over-the-counter; these products have added harmful chemicals to the eyes. Consult your doctor and get a prescription for the proper eye drop.
Eye Care Tips
Here are some things you can do to keep your vision clear and your eyes healthy:
- Eat nutritious meals: Make sure that your diet includes fruits and vegetables. Frequently eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids is also good for the eye.
- Maintain proper weight: Being obese or overweight puts you at risk of diabetes. And as mentioned, diabetes can affect eye health. So, try to maintain a healthy weight as much as you can.
- Exercise regularly: Exercise is one of the best ways to put diabetes at bay. It’s also helpful in controlling high blood pressure and high cholesterol, lowering your risk of eye problems.
- Wear sunglasses: Protect your eyes from harmful UV rays by wearing sunglasses whenever you step out of the sun.
- Wear eye protection: Eye injuries typically happen when playing sports or working in jobs that expose your eyes to certain triggers. Wearing protective eyewear is essential to prevent this from happening.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking is terrible for your health. It also increases the risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration.
- Learn how to use contact lenses properly: There are a few things to remember in wearing contacts. First of all, you need to wash your hands well before touching your eyes. Make sure to follow the instructions on proper contact lens cleaning and do not use them after they’ve expired.
Your habits and lifestyle can have a massive impact on the health of your eyes. The more you engage in unhealthy habits, such as smoking and excessive alcohol use, the more you put your eyesight at risk of serious problems. Visit your eye doctor regularly for routine checkups to prevent eye issues.