17 surprising things you did not know how to damage your eyes

All of your heater to your medicine could be upset for your vision.


According toCenters for Disaster Control and Prevention (CDC), about 12 million people over 40 have a vision impairment and about 61 million US adults are at high risk of major vision loss. Some risk factors for aggravation of vision, such as age, which can not be controlled, but there are others. You might simply do not realize what they are. Here we consulted doctors to gather some of the surprising things that can affectyour ocular health and damage your vision. And for some fake "facts" on your windows in the world, check13 myths of health on your eyes you have to stop believing.

1
Spend too much time on the computer

young woman rubbing her eye and holding eyeglasses. She is suffering with aching eyes while working long hours on computer at home.
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Unfortunately,Spend too much time in front of the computer can seriously have an impact on eye health. According toMelissa Toyos, an ophthalmologist based in Nashville, the use of computers is "N ° 1 emerging dry and irritated eyes". In addition, vision problems related to the use of the computer are so common that the American optometric association (AOA) has a special name for them:IT Vision Syndrome (CVS). And for more on the harmful impact of technology, check7 effects of screen time on your health, according to doctors.

2
And spend too much time on your phone

white man with face mask looking at his phone outside
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As your computer, your mobile phone screen also emits a blue light that can harm your eyes. "Blue light has less energy than UV [light], but it penetrates more deeply in the eye than ultraviolet rays, reaching the light sensitive to the back of the eye", explainsGary Heiting, Director of the Vision for Research and StandardsThose. Limit how long you are going to your phone to protect your health. You want to help you help?7 methods supported by experts to reduce your screen right now.

3
Exceed the contact lenses

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Anyone with less than perfect vision knows that contact lenses are a divine. However, if you use contact lenses, you must make sure that you use them correctly, otherwise you could endanger your health and vision.

"Contact lenses can accumulate deposits of protein, lipids, cosmetics and other debris over time," explains the optometristLeigh Plowman. "The bacteria can also attach to the surface of the lenses and cause a significant infection of the eyes." In a 2016 report published inWeekly Morbidity and Mortality ReportResearchers found that from 2005 to 2015, about 20% of all contact lenses related to contact lenses led to a kind of visual impairment. So be careful.

4
Wear contact lenses in the water

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Make sure you take out your contact lenses before shuffling or swimming. "Hidden bacteria lives in the water and these can cause serious eye infections," saysDamon Ezekiel, an optometrist and president of theInternational Society of Contact Lens Specialists. "Some people have been very unhappy and have lost a look because of these conditions." And for vision problems that could mean problems elsewhere, see17 signs of warning that your eyes are trying to talk about your health.

5
Sleeping contact lenses

A Pair of Contact Lens
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Another thing you should not do when you wear contact lenses? To sleep. "Although gentle contact lenses are approved for the wear of the night, the risk of infection increases exponentially when you sleep in the lenses", explainsBenjamin Bert, MD, an ophthalmologist atMedical Center Orange Coorixcare Coast in California. "The physical lens itself can dry out on the surface of the eye and cause microscopic damage that allow bacteria to enter the cornea and cause an ulcer." And for more problems related to rest, seeGet that a lot of sleep could increase your risk of catching Covid.

6
Turn the heat too high

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"Dry eyes are not just a nuisance - they can actually cause damage to the front of the eye", explainsJonathan Wolfe, an optometrist based in New York. In winter, he sees hordes of people presenting these damages, usually because of "the hot and dry air that is produced by central heating in a house or office".

But there is hope! Wolfe says that "just have a humidifier in the bedroom can lead to significant improvement in comfort and eye health."

7
And blassify the ca

young black woman turning on mini split air conditioner
Shutterstock / Fizkes

If you think your health is better in summer when the Board is on, think again. According to Plowman, air conditioning, such as heating, "reduces relative humidity" in one room, and this "is often a contributor to dry eye disease." TheAmerican optometric association(AOA) notes that advanced dry eyes can lead to an altered vision, so be sure to reduce your AC (and get drops for the eyes) to keep your health in good shape.

8
Rubbing eyes

black woman rubbing her eyes and holding her glasses in front of a computer
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WhenYour allergies Act, it may be tempting to rub one's eyes to mitigate discomfort. However, Wolfe warns that "excessive friction of the eyes can significantly increase his chances of developing a thinning of the cornea (keratoconus) or already accelerate keratoconus", especially in children. And for more useful information delivered in your inbox,Sign up for our daily newsletter.

9
Do garden work without good protection

red lawnmower running over leaves and grass
Shutterstock / V J Matthew

The next time you go outside to mow the lawn or move a branch from the driveway, make sure you wear the appropriate eye protection. According toSatish Modi, an ophthalmologist certified by the Council toSEETA EYE Care In New York, "perform garden work and other tasks where it is possible for something to damage the eye without eye protection can result in serious injury" that permanently harm your vision. "Just wear sustainable safety glasses when performing maintenance tasks can make all the difference for your view," he says.

10
Sleep Apnea

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Sleep apnea does not just make you more tired. According to Plowman,Sleep disorder This could also result in a loss of vision by provoking other conditions such as glaucoma. In a 2013 study published in the newspaperOphthalmologyThe researchers found that patients with sleep apnea had a higher risk of 1.67 times higher to develop glaucoma in the first five years of their diagnosis over unconditional.

11
Antidepressants

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Antidepressants come with severalPotential side effects, one of which is vision problems. These drugs "can affect the development of your eyes" and "[do] it's more difficult to work together to work together", Ploughman's notes. If you start taking antidepressants and suddenly notice your healthy eye health, Plughman suggests talking to a doctor of the eyes to discuss other options.

12
Acne medication

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Antidepressants are not the only type of medication that can cause eye side effects. A common type of acne drug called roaccutane-or isotretinoin-can "Damage the glands of the meibomy In the eyelids "who are responsible for keeping your eyes wet, plowman says. If you are on this medicine and you start doing dry eyes experience, ask your dermatologist on alternative drugs.

13
Wear cheap sunglasses

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It is paying to invest in high quality shades. "Some sunglasses may seem to have dark lentils, but they do not provide enough UV protection," says Ezekiel. "Good quality sunglasses have superior UV protection and the ultimate protection of your eyes comes from polarized sunglasses."

14
Do not wear sunglasses at all

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The only thing worse than wearing cheap sunglasses does not wear sunglasses.Even in winter, Ezekiel explains that "exposing eyes on the UV light without protection can lead to a pterygie [growth on the cornea], eyelid cancers or cataracts. The more you often head outside without sunglasses, more You are likely to meet for a long time questions. "

15
Traveling

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As if you needed anotherbecause I do not fly now. There is a reason why your eyes feel so itching every time you fly. Not only the same air recirculating air on an airplane, but "these directed air winds can dry your eyes before going to your final destination," says Toyos. Sleepingin the plane With an eye mask can reduce the risk of dry eyes.

16
Eat an unbalanced diet

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In severe cases, poor nutrition or lack of certain nutrients may result in vision problems. For example, "VEGANS should take vitamins to prevent the blindness of B-12 deficiency," saysHoward R. Krauss, MD, a surgical neuro-ophthalmologist at the Saint John Providence Health Center in California. It also notes that "the excessive admission of alcohol" and "[some] medical conditions" can "reduce the absorption of vitamins" and, in turn, cause blindness.

17
Untreated diabetes

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"Diabetes can affect almost all parts of the eye from front to the back," says Ploughman. TheNational Eye Institute Note thathave diabetes Make you two to five times more likely to develop cataracts, doubling almost your risk of developing an open-angle glaucoma and puts you at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to loss of vision and, in serious cases, Total blindness.


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