Eye Care Tips: According to a 2021 report by the World Health Organization (WHO), around 2.2 billion people globally suffer from near or farsightedness. India is the second most populous country in the world and is home to over 20 percent of the world’s blind population. Addressing vision loss is a major health problem worldwide, and while many factors are responsible for poor vision, including age, genetics and environment, everyday habits are just as important. There are signs that daily habits can affect a person’s vision and develop into further complications if not addressed in time.
What are these habits?
Too Much Screen Time: Working long hours, especially on a computer, has become a reality for many people around the world. The pandemic and the work-from-home culture meant that people had to work long hours every day. Such a lifestyle can inevitably put significant strain on your eyes and can lead to eye-related problems if not checked properly. A condition often associated with this is “screen-sightedness” or computer vision syndrome. The 20-20-20 technique is a simple yet effective way to take frequent breaks to reduce your stress due to extended use of digital devices. Every 20 minutes spend at least 20 seconds looking at something 20 feet away.
Eating a diet that is deficient in eye health: Foods containing omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, vitamins C and E, and dark leafy greens, nuts, eggs, oranges and seafood can help maintain eye health.
Not getting enough rest: Sleep deprivation, especially when it occurs regularly, can have many negative effects on our health, including a weakened immune system, weight gain, heart disease, high blood pressure, mood swings, both short-term and long-term. and memory issues. It also greatly affects the health of our eyes. Not getting enough rest can lead to eye irritation, dark circles, blurred vision, dry eyes and other conditions. According to research, the eyes need about 7 to 9 hours of sound sleep daily to replenish themselves and function well.
Rubbing Your Eyes: Even rubbing your eyes throughout the day can cause some damage to your vision. Rubbing your eyes can break the blood vessels under your eyelids. When there is burning sensation in the eyes, instead of rubbing the eyes, try applying cold compresses.
Not wearing sunglasses: Not wearing sunglasses can also have a harmful effect on your eyes. Our eyes are sensitive to ultraviolet rays and the elements of the weather which can affect the health of our vision in many ways. Wearing the right sunglasses on a regular basis can prevent the development of macular degeneration or cataracts. In addition, sunglasses also help protect against dry-eye syndrome by blocking wind and dust that can reach your eyes.
Being dehydrated: Water is essential to help maintain hydration in the body. Our eyes depend on water to help lubricate them in the form of tears. It is quite normal for dust, dirt and other debris present in the air to enter our eyes. In the absence of moisture, dry, red or swollen eyes may develop. Thus, it is important to stay hydrated by consuming plenty of water every day.
In addition, regular eye examinations are essential for the timely detection and treatment of visual diseases.
(Disclaimer: Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Zee News staff and is published from a syndicate feed.)