Here are five daily habits that can jeopardize your vision.
Lack of proper eye care can affect your eye sight
A quarter of the world's blind people reside in India. As per a study prepared by the National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB), the nation has approximately 12 million people with visual impairment, compared to a world maximum of 39 million. Like your health, your visual acuity inevitably deteriorates as you get older. Besides that, numerous fairly routine lifestyle habits may be harming your vision. Here are five daily habits that can jeopardize your vision:
1. Excessive Screen Time
The world is saturated with screens. They are on televisions, computers, smartphones, tablets, and pretty much everywhere. Screen time refers to the amount of time people spend each day looking at screens. Excessive screen time can impair vision and end up causing strain, especially in children. People who spend more time on screens may also spend fewer hours staying active and engaging in any sort of physical exercise. Therefore, make sure you have strict controls on how much time your children are spending on screens.
2. Smoking Extensively
Quit smoking or don't start at all. Smoking is as harmful to your eyes as it is to your lungs and heart. Smoking has been closely tied to an elevated risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and optic nerve damage, all of which can result in vision loss. Moreover, cancer is a major trigger of vision loss in adults over the age of 50, and it apparently doubles your odds of contracting these conditions.
3. Not Regulating other Health Conditions
Your eyesight can gradually deteriorate if you don't take care of chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, thyroid, etc. Hypertensive retinopathy, for example, refers to retinal microvascular symptoms that evolve in response to high blood pressure. Symptoms of hypertensive retinopathy are common in adults aged 40 and up and are predictive of stroke, congestive heart failure, and cardiovascular mortality- independently of traditional risk factors.
4. Not Maintaining Adequate Sleep and Exercise
A lack of productive sleep can show complications such as dry eyes, red eyes, dark circles, eye spasms, and light sensitivity. Sleep deprivation has also been linked to physiological changes in the body, such as hormonal and neuronal changes. These changes can further exacerbate poor vision. Similarly, staying indoors and not engaging in any physical activity weakens eyesight. Although shortsightedness is partly genetic, researchers have discovered that children who spend more time indoors are much more inclined to be short-sighted compared to those who participate outdoors on a daily basis.
5. Not Staying Hydrated
Water is required by our cells, organs, and tissues in order to regulate body temperature and other biological functions. Water, in the shape of tears, also aids in keeping our eyes moisturised. It is natural for dust, impurities, and other particles in the atmosphere to reach our eyes. Without moisture in the eyes, one is more likely to develop dry, red, or swollen eyes. Therefore, it is critical to keep your body hydrated by consuming sufficient amounts of fluid day in and day out.
Tips to enhance your eyesight
When it comes to protecting your vision, some simple lifestyle changes can improve not only your physical health but also the wellness of your retinas and eyesight.
• Consume nutritious foods such as dark, leafy greens and fish. A diet high in Omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, and zeaxanthin has been linked to a lower occurrence of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).
• Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly. People who walk for workouts are less likely to develop ARMD. Exercise also aids in the regulation of obesity, high blood pressure, and cholesterol, all of which promote eye health.
• Inquire with family members about any vision problems they have had. ARMD, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and even retinal detachment may all have a genetic predisposition that runs in families.
• In the early stages of many retinal diseases, there are few noticeable symptoms. Therefore, undergo regular dilated retina tests to identify symptoms of a retina condition before extensive impairment occurs.
• The sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays can harm not only our skin but also our eyes. When going outside, wear sunglasses with 100% UV absorption or that block both UVA and UVB rays, as well as a wide-brimmed hat.
(Content By: Dr. Ajay Sharma, Chief Medical Director Eye-Q)
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