7 habits that can prematurely age your eyes
While nobody can stop their eyes from naturally ageing, there are a few common habits that we should aim to banish as they can prematurely age our eyes.
These habits are so common most people aren’t even aware they could be harming their eyes so read the following list and tell us how many are you guilty of?
Rubbing your eyes
The skin around your eyes is very delicate and as such is one of the first tell-tale signs of aging. Rubbing that fragile area can cause the tiny blood vessels to break resulting in dark circles, puffy eyes and even sagging eyelids.
Forgetting the sunnies
The sun’s UV rays can damage more than your skin. Unprotected eyes in the sun can not only cause sunburnt eyes but continual exposure can increase your risk of eye diseases, including cataract, growths on eyes, cancer and macular degeneration which all can cause vision loss. Invest in quality sunglasses and make sure you wear them!
Not eating right
We know a diet of junk food wreaks havoc on our waistlines but it’s also bad for our eyes. If you aren’t eating enough fruit, vegies and fish than you are probably not getting enough of those necessary vitamins, minerals and fatty acids that keep your eyes at optimum health. Aim to fill your plate with leafy greens, fruits and oily fish such as salmon.
Not drinking enough water
Are you drinking the recommended eight glasses of water a day? If you tend to skip the H2O and enjoy a generous dash of salt on your meals this can not only dehydrated your body but your eyes as well. Dehydration can cause dryness, redness, irritation and puffy eyes which will prematurely age the skin around your eyes.
Not getting your beauty sleep
Anybody who has suffered a bad night of sleep knows the eyes are usually the first to suffer with some variation of bloodshot eyes, puffiness and dark circles. A chronic lack of sleep can accelerate the aging process and cause long-term damage to the optic nerve.
Smoking
It is well-known that smoking harms your health but that also includes your eye health. Smoking can lead to serious eye diseases including optic nerve damage, cataracts and macular degeneration. Quitting, no matter what age, has been shown to greatly reduce your risk of developing such conditions.
Skipping your appointments
How often have you skipped your eye exams because nothing was wrong? We are all guilty of doing it but it’s important not to skip appointment as our eyes age.
Regular eye exams are necessary because certain diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration (which can cause permanent vision loss) often have no warning signs. Schedule in regular appointments and make sure you attend; you don’t want to gamble with your eyesight.
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