Your Guide to the Best and Worst Habits for Eyesight
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: our eyes are not to be taken for granted. Healthy eyes are crucial to everyday life. Getting ready for the day, driving to work, sending emails, getting a workout in at the gym, making dinner, reading before bed… it’d all be a bit tougher to complete if our eyes weren’t there to guide us through.
If you wear contact lenses or glasses, you already know the importance of caring for your eyes. But if you currently have perfect eyesight, you might not realize that caring for your eyes is just as important as caring for your teeth or skin.
No matter the current state of your eyesight, it’s never too late to instill healthy habits to give your eyes a health boost.
In this guide, we’re covering some of the worst — and some of the best — habits for your eyesight, so you can start paying closer attention to the health of your eyes. Let’s get the bad news out of the way first and end on a high note, shall we?
Worst Habits for Eyesight
Too much screen time.
Have you ever gotten a notification on your iPhone about your screen time habits? It’s usually… insightful, to say the least. And it’s probably no surprise that all the screen time can wreak havoc on our eyesight.
Modern everyday life is filled with screens. We wake up to screens, work on screens, unwind with screens — heck, we even watch our babies sleep on screens.
Our eyes rarely get a break, aside from shutting them to go to sleep.
The blue light from screens that shines into our eyes all day long can lead to digital eye strain, retinal damage, and even sleep disruption.
In fact, Cleveland Clinic says, “Doomscrolling, for example, can distract you, which keeps you awake, stimulates your brain and delays REM sleep.”
They go on to say that blue light from your phone or other screens can disrupt your circadian rhythm, whether used too soon after waking in the morning or too close to the time you go to bed.
We get it – it’s hard. But we suggest staying away from screens for an hour after waking and an hour before bed to lessen the effects of blue light on your sleep patterns.
Not wearing your sunglasses.
Protecting your eyes from the sun will keep your eyes healthy and happy. And bonus, it’ll keep your skin happy, too, since you won’t be squinting all the time.
Select polarized sunglasses with UV protection as non-polarized sunglasses don’t protect from reflected light and can cause strain on your eyes, even if the lenses are dark.
Not drinking enough water.
Ahh… the seemingly simple task of keeping up with your daily water intake. Drinking plenty of water ensures our eyes maintain a healthy balance of fluid, so they don’t become dry, itchy, or blurry.
Although drinking water seems simple, drinking enough water requires practice for so many of us. We like to set a reminder on our phones throughout the day to make sure we’re staying properly hydrated.
And although your body will require more frequent trips to the restroom for a while, you’ll adjust after a short while and your total well-being — including your eyes! — will thank you for it.
Best Habits for Eyesight
Wearing proper eye protection.
Earlier we mentioned the importance of wearing the proper sunglasses. But wear proper eye protection for various activities — like lawn care, construction, painting, and hobbies such as woodworking, glassblowing, or welding — is of utmost importance.
Even when we can’t see them, dust, chemicals, and other particles blown into the air from activities such as these could enter and damage your eyes.
Similarly, always wearing proper eye protection while playing sports will keep your eyes safe from flying objects and the sun.
It’s a good habit to get into so you always know your eyes are protected.
Washing your hands regularly.
Your mom probably told you to keep your hands off of your face and your fingers out of your eyes. But the truth is, we all do it. All the time. Even when we don’t realize we’re doing it.
So, although a better tip would be to stop touching your face and eyes, we think it’s more practical to just tell you to wash your hands regularly. That way, when you inevitable do touch your eyes, at least your fingers are (mostly) clean.
Visit your eye doctor regularly.
‘But you’re just saying this because you’re optometrists!’ Yeah, yeah, yeah, we hear you. But regular check-ups and prevention are key to maintaining good eye health.
Frankly, it’s the best eye health habit you can adopt. As premier eye care experts, we recommend everyone come in for an annual eye exam.
If you want to know what to expect at your first visit, it’s simple, really. We'll discuss your general health history, your vision needs, and any problems you've noticed. Then, we’ll test your visual acuity and how your eyes move and work together. And we’ll examine your eyes for common eye disorders and diseases. Finally, if you need prescription glasses or contact lenses, we’ll help you find the perfect fit.
At Monocle, our eye exams are patient-centered and catered to your individual vision needs. Come see us to get off to a good start with your new healthy habits for eyesight.