We tend to take our eyes for granted, until there is an issue with them. Given how much you rely on your eyes to get you through your day, it’s important that you take proper care of them. However, it’s possible that you’re making a few mistakes that can leave your eyes vulnerable to infection, injury and other complications.
Below are five eye care mistakes that you’ll want to avoid for the best eye health.
1. Skipping Routine Eye Exams
Even if your vision was perfect last time, this doesn’t mean you should skip your appointments. Annual eye exams are a must when taking care of your vision. During these exams, your eye doctor will check your vision and monitor developing conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy or age-related macular degeneration. They can also detect other medical conditions like thyroid disease or high blood pressure.
2. Not Wearing Sunglasses or Eye Protection
When you’re outdoors, you should wear sunglasses with UV protection. Exposure to UV rays from the sun has been linked to macular degeneration and cataracts. You should also wear sunglasses on cold days because the sunlight reflects off the snow.
Aside from sunglasses, there is also other eye protection to consider. If you work on your computer a lot, blue light blocking glasses can help reduce fatigue, eye dryness and other symptoms. And if you play sports, you should wear the appropriate eye protection, such as sports goggles.
3. Ignoring Eye Pain or Irritation
You may blame your eye pain on eye strain or dryness, but it’s best to get a diagnosis first. The eyes are sensitive, so any type of discomfort is trying to tell you something. For example, severe eye pain can be caused by a scratched cornea or infection, while redness can be caused by seasonal allergies. Fortunately, your ophthalmologist can prescribe a treatment for these problems.
4. Not Taking Care of Your Contact Lenses
If you’re a contact wearer, it’s important to follow all of your doctor’s instructions. Make it a habit to take out your contacts every night to disinfect them and give your eyes a break. Change your contacts according to the directions, and change your lens case as well. And never wash or store your contacts in tap water because it can harbor dangerous pathogens.
5. Rubbing Your Eyes
Rubbing your eyes might feel good, but it can open you up to infections. For example, you can develop an eye condition called keratoconus simply by rubbing your eyes too much. This condition causes your eyes to become thin and bulge outwards, leading to blurred vision, eye pain, sensitivity to light and worsening eyesight.
These five eye care mistakes should be avoided to ensure you have optimal eye health. Empire Retina Consultants makes it easy to take excellent care of your eyes. We have convenient appointments and state-of-the-art technology that allows us to diagnose and treat eye problems in one visit. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.