Healthy eyes are a very important part in terms of quality of life. Eye fatigue and dryness are common symptoms that everyone experiences at least once, but if it worsens beyond that, symptoms such as blurred eyes and reduced vision appear, causing great discomfort. In particular, if these symptoms worsen and progress to a serious stage, the aging of the eyes progresses faster and the possibility of bacterial infection and inflammation increases, which can lead to various eye-related diseases. Factors that deteriorate eye health include eating habits, lifestyle habits, and various environmental factors such as stress. In particular, in recent years, as the use of digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops increases, factors that further overuse the eyes and cause dryness are increasing. Therefore, it is very important to understand the factors that worsen eye health, and change habits to improve and correct them. Now, let’s take a look at some of the habits that worsen eye health. Habits that are bad for eye health
1. Habit of touching and rubbing the eyes frequently
The first habit that adversely affects your eye health is frequent touching and rubbing your eyes. When I wake up in the morning or in my daily life, there are many times when I unconsciously rub my eyes. Since the skin around the eyes is the most sensitive and weak part of our body, rubbing the area around the eyes increases the risk of rupture of the fine blood vessels distributed around the eyes, which can cause swelling of the eyes and reduce dark circles. it can be formed.
In addition, when bacteria from the hands enter the eyes, they can act as a cause of eye diseases such as conjunctivitis. In particular, it is recommended to refrain from rubbing the eyes as it is said that frequent eye contact and rubbing can cause corneal deformation as well as cause astigmatism, especially in children and adolescents who are growing up.
2. Long-term smartphone use
Using a smartphone for a long time is also a habit that deteriorates eye health. Looking at a smartphone with a small screen for a long time not only causes eye fatigue and dryness, but it can also cause deterioration of vision and inflammation of the cornea over a long period of time. In particular, there are many cases of viewing such a smartphone in a dark place. When viewing a bright screen in a dark place, the pupil becomes smaller, which not only increases the burden on the eyes, but also causes an increase in intraocular pressure, which is the cause of various eye diseases. Also, when looking at a smartphone, you should consciously blink your eyes frequently, and after using it for a certain period of time, it is recommended to take a break for your eyes, such as staring at a distant place or closing your eyes.
3. Excessive use of eye drops and artificial tears
When your eyes feel dry or red, you often use eye drops or artificial tears to relieve these symptoms. The use of these products helps to relieve dryness by moisturizing the mucous membranes of the eyes, and to constrict blood vessels to relieve symptoms such as redness. However, depending on the use of these products, excessive use for a long period of time can make the eyes more dry and cause the blood vessels to dilate, making the redness worse. Therefore, if your eyes are stiff, you feel a foreign body sensation in your eyes, or if pain persists, it is important to visit a hospital for fundamental treatment.
4. Smoking
Smoking causes problems such as constriction of peripheral blood vessels and slowing of the central nervous system under the influence of about 4,000 harmful ingredients contained in cigarettes, increasing the risk of various cardiovascular diseases, chronic diseases, and cancer. It can be said that the eyes are also directly damaged by the harmful effects of smoking. The nicotine contained in cigarettes causes platelet aggregation, which not only inhibits the normal flow of blood in the blood vessels of the eye, but also reduces the supply of oxygen to the fibrous tissues of the eye, increasing the possibility of various eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration. It’s possible. Therefore, it is recommended to quit smoking for healthy eye care and prevention of eye diseases.
5. Habit of frequent exposure of eyes to strong sunlight
If the eyes are frequently exposed to strong ultraviolet rays, the aging of the eyes progresses quickly and the risk of damage to the retina increases, which can lead to various inflammatory diseases and ophthalmic diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma. In addition, when exposed to strong UV rays, wrinkles around the eyes are easily created and the risk of diseases such as keratitis increases. Therefore, when going out on a sunny day, it is important to wear a wide-brimmed hat and use sunglasses to minimize eye exposure to UV rays.
6. Excessive consumption of salty and spicy foods
Excessive intake of foods containing too much salt and various chemical seasonings can also make the eyes more dry and cause eye diseases such as dry eye syndrome and conjunctivitis. Therefore, it is recommended to control the intake of foods containing too much salt. In addition, eating green vegetables, berries, fruits, fish, carrots, kaleidoscope, eggs, etc., and drinking enough water are also habits that help eye health.
In addition, prolonged use of contact lenses can also cause problems with oxygen permeability, causing dry eyes and redness, so avoid wearing them for more than 6 hours. In addition, use of poorly cleaned or contaminated contact lenses can also cause bacterial infection and cause eye diseases such as conjunctivitis.
