OOMC News

3 Bad Habits That Are Aging Your Eyes

January 26, 2021

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Many factors can affect your eyes and your eyesight as you get older. However, certain lifestyle habits can make you experience the effects of aging eyes sooner than expected.

Lifestyle habits can play a huge part in eye health and vision over the years. If you want to ensure long-lasting eyesight, here are three bad habits that are aging your eyes and what you can do to change them.

NOT WEARING SUNGLASSES

Overexposure to UV rays is one of the biggest causes of eye health and vision issues, including cataracts and glaucoma. Age-related diseases may occur naturally as your eyes get older. However, without proper protection, you may start to notice symptoms for them at an earlier age. Not only will these issues affect your vision over time, but they can also lead to serious eye health problems.

Fortunately, protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays is as simple as donning a pair of sunglasses when you’re outside in the sun. Wearing sunglasses helps reduce the risk of age-related diseases as well as corneal sunburns.

To maximize protection, make sure you wear sunglasses during the winter, as well. While it may not be as warm, sunglasses can shield your eyes from UV rays reflected from the snow and ice and help prevent snow blindness.

POOR LIFESTYLE CHOICES

Your lifestyle is one of the most important factors in aging eyes. If you smoke, don’t get enough sleep, or have an unhealthy diet, you could be causing your eyes to age faster. Poor lifestyle habits often lead to higher chances of developing cataracts, macular degeneration, and other serious eye health issues.

Additionally, smoking and an unhealthy diet can cause diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is a serious illness that results in decreased eyesight and severe damage to the blood vessels in the retina. Dry eyes can also be a common problem for those with unhealthy habits.

If you want to minimize the effects of aging eyes, the best thing to do is to make a lifestyle change. With time, getting a good night’s sleep, eating more fruits and vegetables, and kicking bad habits from your life can help you keep your eyes well and your eyesight clear.

NOT SCHEDULING ROUTINE EYE DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS

Routine appointments with your eye doctor are essential to your overall eye health now and later in life. Typically, you’ll need to schedule an eye exam every year. However, how often you need an eye doctor appointment will ultimately depend on your eye health.

With regular check-ups, your eye doctor will examine your vision and your eyes for any early signs of age-related diseases and other issues. The earlier your doctor can detect problems, the earlier they’ll be able to treat it. This will help better preserve your eyesight for the future.

Aging eyes are inevitable, but understanding the habits that are aging your eyes, along with what you can do to change them, can ultimately reduce your risk of diseases, and keep you seeing clear later in life.

 

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