Eyes are delicate, sensitive organs in our bodies that we never really think too much about until something goes wrong with them. That, my friends, is when the panic sets in and we have to scramble for an eye doctor appointment.
Surprisingly, there are quite a few things that we could be doing to our eyes every single day that may cause irreparable damage. Some of these things we write off as completely harmless, while others we know deep down could be dangerous but decide to take the risk anyway.
But when it comes to our eyes, we always want to be safe rather than sorry, because we only get one pair. If I want to keep my vision in my later years, I better shape up now!
Do you do any of these potentially destructive things to your eyes? Did we miss anything from our list?
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1. Put Old Makeup Anywhere Near Them
The mascara that you're using now is probably already too old, because you should ideally be throwing away your tube of mascara every three months. Save yourself the pain and trouble of an infection by replacing it now.
2. Subject Them To Any Old Eye Drops
You should talk to your doctor before you reach for the eye drops in your cabinet, because you could be using the wrong kind for your condition. Plus, if you have to use eye drops often, you may need to get yourself checked out for more serious issues.
3. Leave Them Naked
Don't skip out on your glasses. This means remembering to wear your prescription and sunglasses. When you forget to wear your prescription glasses, you end up straining your eyes, potentially damaging them further. When you don't wear UV-stopping sunglasses, the dangerous rays can cause gradual vision loss or even cataracts.
4. Neglect To Give Them Proper Nutrition
What you eat can severely affect your eyes, and make age-related problems like macular degeneration and cataracts much more likely. Make sure you eat tons of leafy greens, foods with good omega-3 fatty acids like salmon and tuna, and nuts and other non-meat protein sources. Basically, your eyes are just as dependent on your diet as the rest of your body.
5. Damage Them With Smoking
Much like your diet affects your entire body, smoking is bad for more than just your lungs. A smoking habit will make you more susceptible to vision problems and other deteriorating eye conditions. Of course, smoking is not an easy habit to kick to the curb, but the more you try, the more likely you are to succeed. Never give up!
6. Forget To Give Them A Rest
Taking breaks at work is crucial. You may think that you're doing the right thing by only getting up to run to the bathroom or have a quick 10-minute lunch, but you're actually really damaging your eyes. You should be getting up at least once every two hours for at least a 15-minute break. You should also be looking 20 feet into the distance every 20 minutes for 20 seconds to give your eyes a rest. You can call that one the 20-20-20 rule!
7. Open Them Underwater In A Chlorinated Pool
The chlorine itself may cause irritation, but it shouldn't cause any permanent damage to the eye itself. However, the chemicals in the water will wash away the tear lining that protects your eyes from bacteria and infection. You may end up with a nasty eye infection from some of the bacteria that the chlorine doesn't kill if you aren't careful underwater.
8. Neglect To Protect Them
Whether you are doing home renovations involving sawdust or chemicals, experimenting in a laboratory, or playing a high-contact sport like hockey or football, you should always be protecting your eyes from impact, injury, or contamination. Eye injuries are no fun, and you certainly don't want to end up losing your vision, fully or partially. Better safe than sorry.
9. Rob Them Of Blood Flow
Staying active is important. Without exercise, your blood flow is compromised and there is less circulation to the eyes. The healthy blood flow that exercise induces also helps flush out the toxins from the eyes.
10. Let Air Conditions Dry Them Out
Both heating and cooling systems can dry out your environment, which is not great for keeping your eyes moist and protected. It is always a good idea to have a humidifier to keep the air nice and moist. It is also a good idea to purify your air with a filter, and to keep your couches and beds clear of pet hair and dander.
Did you know that these are huge no-nos for your eyes? Please SHARE with your family and friends on Facebook!
