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Whether it’s using computers, watching Netflix, playing video games, or even texting friends and browsing social media, we’re constantly glued to our devices to the point that we can’t live without them. So much so that it’s no wonder that vision problems affect 2+ billion people worldwide - a figure that’s only expected to rise. To help you prevent vision problems, our friends from Pacific Prime Hong Kong will shed light on 6 surprising habits that are hurting your eyes.
1. Using your devices
Spending too much time on your devices can result in blurred vision, headaches, dry eyes, eye irritation, neck and shoulder pain, and difficulty sleeping. This is usually caused by improper viewing distances, poor lighting, and screen glare. Although it’s impossible to give up on devices entirely, you should limit your screen time and wear blue light glasses when on your devices.
2. Rubbing your eyes
Rubbing your eyes can result in scratched corneas and eye diseases. It can also worsen existing problems, increase the risk of infections, and cause blindness through a condition called keratoconus. Even if you wash or sanitize your hands often, bacteria can still be transferred to your eyes when you rub them. So why not opt for a water or saline rinse instead?
3. Wearing/using contact lenses incorrectly
Many contact lens wearers don’t follow hygiene protocols. Some of these risky behaviors that put your eyes at risk include sleeping with contact lenses, overusing them, and not cleaning and storing them properly. As a contact lens wearer, do follow your eye doctor’s instructions and, no matter how tired you are, remove your contact lenses before hitting the sack.
4. Not wearing (high-quality) sunglasses
If you don’t wear high-quality sunglasses outdoors, you’ll expose your eyes to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. While those who spend a lot of time in the sun are at greater risk, short-term exposure can be equally harmful. One example is photokeratitis (“snow blindness”). Over time, UV ray damage can also cause common eye disorders like cataracts, pterygium, and eyelid cancers.
5. Smoking
Smoking not only causes lung-related diseases, but also a host of other health problems, including eye-related ones such as cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and dry eyes. In turn, these eye problems can lead to vision loss, and impair your ability to drive and read. Of course, one of the best ways to protect your eyes is to quit smoking.
Another habit that hurts your eyes is skipping visits to the eye doctor. This is especially the case for those with diabetes, hypertension, and other health issues that increase the risk of eye problems, as well as the elderly who are likely to face age-related eye problems. To ensure you access the best vision care in the SAR without paying out of pocket, consider securing health insurance with vision coverage through a reputable broker like Pacific Prime Hong Kong!