5 tips to protect your eyes

The eyes are one of the most sensitive and delicate organs in the body – but also one of the most important and busiest. We rely on them for almost every daily activity: work, driving, reading, watching screens, interpersonal communication and more. Nevertheless, in the modern race of life, many of us tend to neglect the health of our eyes, without noticing the cumulative effects of the stressful routine, the many hours of screen time, exposure to the sun or the lack of sufficient rest. All of these can cause fatigue, dryness and sometimes a decrease in the quality of vision.

Here are five simple habits that anyone can adopt to protect their eyes and vision over time. And also: what are the common mistakes that should be stopped right now?

Many people think that sunglasses are only meant for direct sunny days, but UV rays can damage the eyes even when the weather is cloudy. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation accumulates over the years and can damage the lens of the eye and the retina.

What is important to know? Prefer glasses that include full filtration (UV400), and preferably from certified optical stores – and not in cheap fashion accessory stores.

If you spend hours in front of a computer or phone, your eyes are under constant strain. The simple rule: every 20 minutes, look for 20 seconds at an object that is 20 feet (about 6 meters) away.

Why is this important? This short break helps to relax the eye muscles and reduces the risk of an increase in the number of glasses.

Keeping the eyelids and hands clean significantly reduces the chance of suffering from inflammations, irritations or introducing infections into the eye area.

What is recommended? Be sure to wash your hands before touching your eyes, remove makeup thoroughly and avoid sharing towels or eye care products. Contact lens wearers should place extra emphasis on proper daily cleaning, including disinfecting the box and regularly changing the soaking liquid. It is best to use daily contact lenses.

An air-conditioned environment and dry air – such as in an air-conditioned or heated environment – can cause dryness, burning and also tears, as the eyes try to compensate for a lack of moisture.

How are you treated? Eye drops that moisturize the eyes (tear substitutes, preferably without preservatives), can improve the feeling immediately and in the long term. If this happens often – you should consult an ophthalmologist.

Many come for an examination only when there is already a problem, but it is recommended to go for a periodic examination at an ophthalmologist once a year.