According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than sixty million American adults suffer from eye problems, such as vision impairment or other complications that could lead to vision loss. 

There are a lot of internal and external factors that can affect our eye health, but unfortunately, we can’t always change or control the internal ones, such as genetically inherited characteristics, or of course, age. 

Even though we can’t control genetics, it’s important to understand that we can try our best to minimize the risks that can lead to major complications, or worsen existing symptoms and develop various severe diseases in the long run. 

So, you can reduce these risks by adopting a healthy diet full of essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, vitamin C and vitamin E and changing and improving your lifestyle. 

Your everyday routine can have a major impact on your overall health, but before changing your lifestyle you should consult your doctor. 

So, here are some things that could affect your eye health. Read on to find out more info!

You work all day in front of a computer

If your job involves spending a lot of time in front of a computer you should know that you are prone to developing eye problems in the future. Of course, there are a lot of tricks that can help you reduce the risk of eye problems, such as wearing effective glasses that also have PC protection, taking frequent but short breaks and blink more often. 

According to Melissa Toyos, a Nashville-based ophthalmologist, people tend to blink less often when they spend a lot of time in front of a computer and this is the common cause that usually leads to eye problems. In general, computers cause dry and irritated eyes. 

So, if you have to spend a lot of time in front of your computer because your job involves it, then you should blink more often and realize the importance of frequent breaks at work.

You spend too much time on your phone

Whether we are talking about your computer, phone, TV, or tablet, all of these electronic devices can be dangerous to your eye health because they emit a blue light that is known for its side effects. 

According to Gary Heiting, director of vision research and standards at Eyesafe, “blue light has less energy than UV [light], but it penetrates deeper into the eye than ultraviolet rays, reaching the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye.”

That being said, the solution is to spend less time on your phone, especially when you are at work and you already have to use the computer. As we said before, it’s important to take frequent breaks to relax your eyes, not to play on your phone. 

In addition, it has been proven that playing on your phone before bed can also affect your sleeping routine. If you want to improve the quality of your sleep you should stop spending time on your phone at least an hour before going to bed. 

You don’t use contact lenses properly

Many people use contact lenses to improve their eye health, but if you don’t use them properly and don’t take care of them accordingly, you are worsening your existing symptoms and it can lead to severe complications in the long run.  

“Contact lenses can build up deposits of protein, lipids, cosmetics, and other debris over time,” explains optometrist Leigh Plowman. “Bacteria can also attach themselves to the surface of the lenses and cause a significant eye infection.”

According to a study published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, people who don’t use their contact lenses correctly are more likely to develop various corneal infections and other visual impairment complications. 

Moreover, you should take out your contact lenses before taking a shower or swimming. According to Damon Ezekiel, an optometrist and president of the International Society of Contact Lens Specialists, there are many bacteria in the water that can affect the health of the eyes.

You rub your eyes excessively 

Unfortunately, people who suffer from various allergies tend to rub their eyes to ease the discomfort, because one of the most common symptoms of allergies is itchy eyes. That being said, it’s important to understand that excessive eye rubbing can lead to keratoconus in the long run. Keratoconus (KC) is an eye disorder that results in progressive thinning of the cornea. 

The symptoms of keratoconus include blurry vision, double vision, irregular astigmatism and light sensitivity. According to health experts, young children are more likely to develop this condition.

You don’t protect your eyes while you work in your garden

Health experts say that one of the most common mistakes that people always make is not using eye protection, such as glasses, while they work in their garden. Studies have shown that many work accidents affect people’s eyes, so protection is the most important thing when doing physical work, such as gardening, construction or repairing yard objects.

Satish Modi, a board-certified ophthalmologist at Seeta Eye Care in New York, says that “performing yard work and other tasks where it is possible for something to damage the eye without eye protection can lead to serious injuries.” 

“Simply wearing durable safety glasses when performing maintenance tasks can make all the difference for your eyesight,” he added.

You take antidepressants often

Unfortunately, many people take antidepressants to relieve stress, anxiety, depression, or other problems, but these meds can actually affect your eye health in the long run. It has been shown that antidepressants can actually have hidden side effects that cause vision problems. 

So, if you are in this situation, namely that you are taking antidepressants and you have noticed that your vision has become poor, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible and try to find another option that works well for you. 

However, researchers believe that acne medication, such as Roaccutane can adversely affect your eye health.