We take our eyes for granted. Most of us don’t realize how we treat our eyes until they are in pain and you cannot go about your daily activities anymore. In an age that is filled with technology and blue light, we tend to overwork our eyes regularly, and these habits can lead to a lot of long-term problems if we don’t stop now. If you have deteriorating eyesight, you may need to try daily contact lenses UK.

So to ensure your eyes stay as healthy as possible and you don’t end up in a facility such as urgent care in Wall, NJ, take notice if you are doing any of the following bad eye care habits.

Rubbing your eyes whenever they feel uncomfortable

There’s something to be said when it comes to the feeling of rubbing your eyes if they are feeling particularly sore, dry, or upset. But this eye rubbing can be exceptionally harmful, even if it feels good at first. Constant and consistent eye rubbing can not only cause you to transfer germs from your hands to the mucous membrane of your eyes, but it can also lead to wear and tear of your cornea and fragile blood vessels. 

Instead of rubbing your eyes whenever they feel tired, consider the source of their irritation and then mend the situation. They could be tired from reading too much off of a blue screen, dry from working in a musty environment, or itchy because you have allergies. Take careful note next time you rub your eyes, and you’ll be able to come up with a solution to prevent the rubbing in the first place.

Sleeping in contacts

It can be tempting to fall asleep in your contacts, especially if you catch yourself dozing on the couch or even at the office. It’s understandable that this happens, but it is a serious no-no when it comes to caring for your eyes properly. When you wear your contacts for long amounts of time — and that includes sleeping!– it increases your risk for serious eye infections and even permanent damage. 

Consider this fact: according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost one million Americans visit medical professionals, such as eye doctors in Princeton, NJ for treatment for contact-related infections. So always, always take your contacts out before you even get tempted to fall asleep, and make sure to wash your hands first!

Using eye drops frequently

Over-the-counter eye drops can give great relief to tired, itchy eyes, but they do not work well as a long-term eye treatment. This is because they only provide temporary relief and make your eye look less red, instead of improving the health of your eye as a whole. While they are not bad to use, only use them minimally and for a short period of time. If you are finding that you’re reaching for eye drops more consistently than normal, it can be a good idea to go to your eye doctor for a checkup so they can determine the root of your irritation.

Not eating enough fruits and veggies

Just like any other organ in your body, it is imperative to eat a healthy diet for optimal eye function. Vitamins C, E, zinc, and omega-3 are great for improving eye health, and enough water intake is pivotal for the eyes staying as hydrated as possible. To ensure you have these nutrients, add citrus fruit, fish, whole grains, leafy greens, and nuts to your diet as much as you can.

Take a look at this list and if you notice that you fall victim to any of these habits, be as mindful as possible to change them quickly. Your eyes will thank you!