Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in General Eye Health on December 15, 2017
We all have a couple bad habits that we can’t seem to kick – whether it is biting your fingernails or skipping flossing we are all guilty of something. But what if you found out your bad habits were affecting your eye health? We are here to help! Here are 4 bad habits that could be negatively impacting your eyes.
Constantly Being Behind A Screen
Whether it’s your cell phone, computer, or TV most people spent a lot of their time behind a screen. This can be harmful to your eyes because of the blue light that is emitted from these screens that can cause an increase in your eye strain. It is important to take breaks from looking at these screens throughout the day to ensure you are giving your eyes a rest.
Rubbing Your Eyes
Rubbing your eyes can have a negative impact on your eye health for multiple reasons. Firstly, your hands are covered in germs and bacteria and by rubbing your eyes with them you are exposing your eyes to these germs. In addition to this, you can end up damaging your cornea from the constant rubbing motion which can result in loss of vision. Your eyes will naturally use tears to wash away debris that may be in your eyes, so trust your eyes and try to keep your hands away from them as much as possible.
Sleeping In Cosmetics
If you wear makeup you have had this experience before – you are already in bed and realize you forgot to wash your makeup off. What next? Some will peel themselves out of bed to remove the day’s makeup but others will shrug it off and go to bed. When you sleep in makeup you are also sleeping in all the collected bacteria throughout the day. To protect your eyes make sure you are removing away your makeup before falling asleep at night to reduce your risk of an eye infection.
Not Wearing Sunglasses
It is important to take preventative steps to protect your vision. By wearing sunglasses outside you not only will protect your eyes from damaging UV rays but you will reduce your exposure to the wind and direct sunlight that can dry out your eyes. The longer that your unprotected eyes are exposed to UV rays the higher your chances of developing cataracts or macular degeneration later in your life are. Next time you are headed outside don’t forget to grab your sunglasses on the way out!
