Your eyes are your windows to the world, but how often
do you take care of them?
Good eye health starts with a choice, and whether you
know it or not, you actually make a choice every second, every day. Here are
five ways you may not realize you’re hurting your eyes and what you can do
about them:
#1. Getting too much screen time. Staring at your
smartphone and computer screens for a long time leads to eye strain, and dry
and tired eyes, which in turn leads to blurred vision, headaches and dizziness.
Since we are at an age where exposure to digital technology is unavoidable, the
best workaround to limit your screen time is with the 20/20/20 rule. Every 20
minutes, look at something from 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This simple step
will give your eyes a much-needed break and reduce eye strain. Enlarging the
text on your screens and avoiding using your gadgets at night will also prevent
fatigue and sleep disorders.
#2. Rubbing your eyes. As tempting as it may be,
rubbing your eyes when they get dry or itchy is a big no-no. It may actually do
more harm than good. Excessive rubbing can break the blood vessels in the
eyelids, and spread germs and bacteria into the eyes if your hands are dirty.
Using tear drops or an ice compress is the better alternative to washing away
debris from your eyes, calm an itch or bring instant relief.
#3. Wearing your contact lens for too long. This
includes wearing them in the shower or while sleeping, or wearing overused
contact lenses with an expired prescription. While convenient, doing these
increases the risk of bacteria entering your eye and causing infections, even
blindness. The simple solution is to follow your doctor’s instructions on how
to care for your contacts, from the use of solution to the replacement
schedule. Trading in your contact lens for prescription glasses at certain
points of the day will also let your eyes rest and breath.
#4. Not wearing sunglasses. Sunglasses are not only
for fashion, they help protect your eyes from exposure to the sun’s UV rays,
which puts you at risk for conditions such as cataracts and macular
degeneration. As much as possible, when you go out, put on a pair of
sunglasses, or UV-protected eyeglasses or contact lenses. Pairing your shades
with caps and visors is also a plus.
#5. Not visiting your eye doctor. Having your eyes
checked regularly by your ophthalmologist, especially if you feel that
something is wrong, is the best way to ensure eye health and detect vision-impairing
conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration at their earliest.
Dr. Steve Seah is a sought-after Singapore eye specialist with an extensive clinical experience in the management of various
eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataract and refractive errors. Schedule an
appointment for eye screening at 6565-6888
