Monday, September 23, 2013

Habits that Hurt Your Eyes

Many people have certain quirks or habits. Many are annoying or bad for you in some way—nail biting, procrastinating, texting while driving…but did you know there are many habits that could also have a negative effect on your eyes? Check out the list below to see if there’s anything you’re doing that could be hurting your vision.

  • Poor nutrition. Many age-related eye diseases can be prevented or alleviated by a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and essential vitamins and minerals. Hydrating well is also important to avoid dry eyes.
  • Not sleeping enough. The aging process can be hastened if you’re not getting enough rest. A lack of quality sleep time means less time for your body to rebuild cells, which can not only cause those dark circles and puffy eyes, it can also lead to damage to your vision and dry eye syndrome.
  • Smoking. Smoking can increase your risk for all kinds of ocular diseases, such as cataracts and macular degeneration (not to mention the terrible effect it has on your lungs!).
  • Not protecting your eyes from UV rays. Sunglasses are a must for the outdoors. UV rays can lead to so many damaging diseases, including eyelid cancer, macular degeneration, cataracts, and photokeratitis (a sunburned cornea). Wear those sunglasses year-round!

And one last bad habit—forgetting to schedule your annual eye exam! If you haven’t done so yet, this is your friendly reminder. Give us a call!

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