- Rubbing your eyes
- Rubbing increases the risk of scratching your cornea and/or rubbing in deeper anything that could be bothering your eyes. Rubbing will also make itching worse and it also increases your risk for corneal issues such as keratoconus. I’ll also add that rubbing can increase dark circles and wrinkles around your eyes and who wants either!?
- Not removing your makeup at the end of the day
- This is one of the biggest issues I see with patients. Leaving your makeup on increases your risk of redness and infection. It can also lead to breakouts and collagen breakdown which will lead to more wrinkles. People who don’t regularly remove make up also have shorter and less eye lashes as it makes your lashes more brittle and prone to breakage.
- Not wearing quality sunglasses
- When you put dark glasses of any kind over your eyes, your pupils (the black parts of the eyes) adjust by growing larger to allow more light to come into the eyes to provide better focus. The trick is to allow the correct wavelengths of light through while keeping the bad wavelengths out. If you are using poor quality sunglasses, the lenses are not made to keep out the bad wavelengths and your pupil is now allowing more bad wavelengths of light to enter which can damage the eyes. Good quality sunglasses do more than just provide 100% UV protection – they also protect your eyes from violet and blue light wavelengths which can cause damage.
- Not changing your contacts on a regular basis
- Do I really need to say this is bad for your eyes? Contact lenses are only manufactured to be worn for the amount of time prescribed. Going over that time increases your risk for infection and decreases clarity of vision because the lenses will and do break down.
- Not taking your vitamins
- Vitamins are not only great for your overall health, but they are also beneficial for your vision. Fish oil is great for dry and irritated eyes. Carotenoids reduce oxidative stress on the retina and protect your eyes from blue light damage. They also reduce the risk for developing macular degeneration. Vitamin C can help slow down cataract progression, aid corneal healing, and can help reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration. A good quality multi-vitamin will contain the correct levels of carotenoids and Vitamin C necessary for good eye health. If you are curious as to whether or not fish oil or other vitamins are right for you, talk to your eye care provider or make an appointment to discuss.
5 Mistakes You Are Making With Your Eyes
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