A survey was recently conducted by Bausch + Lomb, revealing that over 70 percent of people would prefer to lose a limb than lose their eyesight. However, results showed that these very people do not seem to know how to properly take care of their eyes.
Doctors and experts emphasize the importance of taking necessary steps to care for the eyes, and here are a few empirically-based, tried and tested ways to do so:
Remove Contact Lenses Before Bed
Failure to remove your contacts before bed could result to dry red eyes the next day. According to Rachel Bishop, MD, MPH, contact lenses make it harder for the cornea to get its needed oxygen, nutrients, and lubrication. Dr. Bishop is the chief of consultant services at the National Eye Institute and the National Institutes of Health. She adds that when the cornea does not get what it needs, the eyes become red. "It may also lead to corneal infection that can eventually lead to vision loss," she said.
Minimize Computer Use
The American Optometric Association reveals that blurry vision are can be attributed to what is called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), a condition that affects people who spend two or more continuous hours a day on the computer.
To prevent or control CVS, it is important that the computer screen is about 15 to 20 degrees below eye level, and 20 to 28 inches from the eyes. Regular breaks help tremendously as well. Teri Geist, OD, recommends looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes. Geist is an optometrist in Omaha, Nebraska and a spokesperson for the American Optometric Association.
Clean Makeup Brushes
According to New York City optometrist Susan Resnick, OD, makeup brushes accumulate bacteria over time, potentially causing styes (eyelid infection), pink eye, or conjunctivitis (inflammation of membrane lining the eyelid's inner surface and the eyeball's outer surface). It is important to clean them regularly to avoid bacteria build-up and prevent unwanted eye problems.