Poor vision can come from a confluence of factors, including genetics, age, and your personal environment. However, many people just get their corrective lenses, like glasses or contacts, and don’t take other steps to take care of their vision. Especially in today’s world where you’re surrounded by screens, it’s easy to form bad habits that cause further vision problems.
There are many common unhealthy habits you may have that can cause bad eyesight. Notice these habits, break them, and maintain your healthy vision for years in the future.
Too Much Smartphone Time
Trying to read the small text on your smartphone can strain your eyesight and cause vision problems, especially if you’re doing for hours daily. Spending too much time on your cell phone can lead to dry eyes, dizziness, blurry vision, and nausea. Give your eyes breaks every 20 minutes and increase the font size if you find yourself struggling.
Rubbing Your Eyes Too Frequently
You might think this can’t cause poor eyesight, as “everyone does it.” However, no matter how much you want to rub them, avoid the temptation. You can break the blood vessels under your eyelids. Consider a cold compress to soothe irritation instead.
Not Including Eye-Friendly Foods in Your Diet
You’ve probably already heard that carrots are good for your eyesight, but there’s more you can include in your diet to help your eye health. Certain fruits and vegetables are critical to your eyes, especially ones that contain zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins C and E. Yellow- and orange- colored fruited (fruits) and vegetables, dark leafy greens, eggs, nuts, and seafood can all help your eyesight.
Not Drinking Enough Water
Stay hydrated—it’s essential for tear production and keeping your eyes lubricated. Dehydration will stop you from producing tears, which you need for moisture. Your eyes can also become dry, puffy, and red, which isn’t attractive or healthy.
Smoking
There are many reasons why you shouldn’t smoke, including increased risk of lung and throat cancer, but it can also cause vision problems. Smoking cigarettes and other forms of tobacco are linked to macular degenerations, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and other dangerous diseases. In fact, smokers are four times more likely to become blind compared to non-smokers.
Not Wearing Your Sunglasses
If you don’t regularly wear sunglasses outside, you’re exposing your eyes to harmful UV and high-energy visible (HEV) rays. These rays prematurely age and cause vision problems, can lead to sunburn on the front of your eye (photokeratitis), macular degeneration, and even cancer. Wear sunglasses that block UV rays to protect your eyes, even on overcast days.
Not Getting Enough Sleep
No matter how much you think you can get by with just a few hours, you need sleep. Without ample rest, your eyes can become red, bloodshot, and you can get dark circles, dry eyes, and blurred vision. With six to eight hours of sleep a night, you can protect your eyes and improve your overall health.
Avoid these potential causes of poor eyesight and protect your eyes from harm. You’ll need your eyes for the rest of your health, so treat them well. They require more than an infrequent eye exam and glasses; care for them as much as your skin, lips, or other important body parts. If you think your vision may already be damaged or could be improved, get in touch with OCVT for a complementary consultation to see if vision therapy could help improve your eyesight.
