Your mom probably told you that sitting too close to the TV would wreck your eyes. Turns out, she's wrong—there's no evidence to show that does lasting damage, the American Academy of Ophthalmology says.
But there are plenty of other things you're doing that can set your
eyeballs up for painful infections, freaky injuries, and more. And
you're probably guilty of at least a few of them. Here, 8 everyday eye
habits that are way riskier than you think—and what you should do to
steer clear.
Over time, bacteria from your contact lenses build up in your case—even if you're changing your solution regularly.
Those germs can latch onto the surface of your contacts and multiply.
Then, when you put them into your eyes, they can cause a corneal ulcer,
an open sore caused by an infection that can cause severe pain,
itching, sensitivity to light, and blurry vision.
[post_ads]That's why you should throw out your case and buy a new one every 3
to 4 months, says Ray Chan, MD, an ophthalmologist at Texas Health
Arlington Memorial Hospital. Doing it at the same time you replace your
toothbrush is an easy way to remember.It's also a good idea to sterilize your case in boiling water for 5
minutes once a week, Dr. Chan says. That’ll kill off any germs that
might be accumulating. Remember to change your solution daily, too.
Re-using solution (or topping off old solution) causes bacteria to build
up, which can up the risk for infection.
Even though it feels good, vigorously rubbing
your eyes can rupture blood vessels, making your eyes look bloodshot.
Not so attractive, right?
The ruptured blood vessels—while unsightly—aren't actually harmful,
but rubbing your eyes could set you up for something a little more
serious: It can also transfer bacteria and viruses from your hands to
your eyelashes and eyelids, upping the risk for infections like pink
eye, Dr. Chan says.
Plus, rubbing causes inflammation around your eyes, which can make them feel irritated and make you want to rub them more.
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Instead of rubbing your eyes directly, try rubbing around your eye
instead. "Keep your hand and fingers on the orbital rim, which is the
bony rim around your eye," says Dr. Chan. This will still give you that
good feeling, but without the risk.
The average person touches their face almost 16 times an hour, found one Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene study.
That gives your grubby hands and fingers have a lot of chances to come
in contact with your eyes—and transfer nasty bacteria or viruses that
could cause an infection, says Stuart Sondheimer, MD, an ophthalmologist
in Park Ridge, Illinois.
To keep those germs from reaching your eyes, try to avoid randomly
touching or scratching them. And when you do have to touch them (like
when changing your contacts or if something is in your eye), always wash
your hands first with warm, soapy water.
[post_ads]Eyelashes exist to help block dirt, dust, and
debris from entering your eyes—and pulling them out ups the odds that
foreign particles can make their way in. That can lead to eye pain and
irritation. Foreign particles can also trigger an immune system
reaction, causing your eye to get red, teary, or itchy, Dr. Chan says.
Lash-pulling is sometimes triggered by stress or anxiety—so if you
find yourself doing it often, talk with a psychologist. He can help you
figure out other ways to cope.
Saliva is loaded with germy bacteria, and tap water can contain harmful amoebas—bacteria-like organisms that can cause Acanthamoeba keratitis, an infection that can leave you permanently blind.
So using either liquid to change your contacts puts you at risk for a
serious infection that could lead to permanent vision loss, Dr. Chan
says. That's why you should always use contact lens solution to change
or rinse your contacts.
Distilled water or saline drops are safe alternatives if you don't
have any solution around. If you have no other options, use cooled
boiled tap water, Dr. Chan recommends. Boiling sterilizes the water,
killing infection-causing bacteria.
Goggles might look a little dorky. But they
form a waterproof seal around your eyes to block out potentially harmful
compounds in the water.
Like tap water, both fresh and saltwater can contain harmful
microorganisms and bacteria, along with debris that could irritate your
eyes, says Dr. Sondheimer. And pool water can leave your eyes bloodshot
and uncomfortable. When the chlorine used to clean public pools mixes
with sweat, urine, and fecal matter, it forms chloramines—chemicals that
can cause eye redness and irritation, according to the CDC.
Your goggles don't have to be fancy or expensive. Just make sure they fit snugly so they form a tight seal around your eyes.
Weirdly, eye-whitening drops can actually
make your eyes redder. The drops work by constricting the blood vessels
in your eyes to reduce blood flow, helping them appear less bloodshot.
But using them on a regular basis causes your eyes to adapt to the
drops.
So when you stop, you end up getting a rebound effect where your
blood vessels dilate and your eyes look red, says Andrew Holzman, MD,
ophthalmologist and regional medical director of TLC Laser Eye Centers
in Maryland.
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It's fine to use the drops once in a while (like after a night of
drinking). But if you're using them every day for more than a week or
two, see your eye doctor to figure out what's actually causing the
redness, says Dr. Holzman. Usually, it's dryness, which can be treated
with lifestyle changes, artificial tears, or medication.
More than 40% of eye injuries are caused by
things like home repairs, yard work, and cleaning—and guys are at
greater risk for getting hurt than women, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
That's because it's easy for debris or sharp objects like metal or
wood to strike your eye and cause a serious injury, Dr. Sondheimer says.
So forget any fears about looking dorky and strap on a pair of
well-fitting goggles before you crank up the lawnmower or fix that leaky
faucet.
