Caring for your eyes is important to maintaining clear and healthy vision. Some people, however, aren’t aware of how they can damage their eyes. Insight Vision Center, a vision therapy clinic, lists four habits that can impair your eyesight.
1. Eye Rubbing
People with allergies may experience a tingling sensation in their eyes, which makes them want to rub their eyes. Blepharitis, eye strain, dry eyes and pink eye can also trigger itching of the eyes. Rubbing your eyes, however, carries multiple risks. This can cause infection, darken the skin around your eyes and even lead to poor vision.
2. Prolonged Computer or Smartphone Use
About 80% of adults in the country use their devices for over two hours per day, and 59% of them experience symptoms of computer vision syndrome, also known as digital eye strain. This eye problem may be due to poor lighting, glare on a digital screen, improper viewing distances and poor posture. To avoid digital eye strain, follow the 20-20-20 rule, which suggests taking a 20-second break to look at an object that’s 20 feet away every 20 minutes spent using a device.
3. Forgetting to Wear Sunglasses
Sunglasses are often used as a fashionable accessory, but they can also protect your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) rays. They help minimize sun exposure, which can cause cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and pterygium. To avoid these eye diseases, ask your vision therapy doctor for sunglasses that can block out 99 to 100% of both UVA and UVB radiation.
4. Unprotected Eyes When Handling Chemicals
A splash of chemicals in your eyes can impair your vision. Many people, however, do not use safety eyewear to protect their eyes from chemical-related injuries. Get in touch with your local eye specialist if you notice swelling or painful sensation in the affected eye.
Count on Insight Vision Center for your eye health care needs. Apart from vision therapy, we also offer scleral lenses to improve your eyesight. Call us today at (714) 486-3315, or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment. We serve residents of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, CA.