You probably engage in countless activities every day that require keen eyesight. However, making sure this sense remains at its best requires you to adhere to eye care best practices. While there are many ways to positively impact your vision, like eating nutritious foods, often this process starts by curtailing bad habits. The guide below looks at some to be aware of. 

3 Ways People Hurt Their Eyesight

1. Using a Smartphone

Texting, tweeting, and gaming on your smartphone for hours at a time is a habit that can lead to pain, eye irritation, and blurred vision. While it is hard to stay away from screens in the modern era, take a break every 20 minutes and enlarge the print size of the words you read.    

2. Completing Work Tasks

Whether your daily work responsibilities involve using an office computer or welding steel for long periods, activities that require intense focus can cause you to blink less than normal, leading to red, dry eyes. Adjust your computer or laptop screen so it’s not too bright. Change the font of the text to one that’s easy on the eyes, such as Arial or Verdana. When operating machinery, avoid working in dim light and always wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying sparks or bits of debris. 

3. Rubbing Your Eyes

It might seem like rubbing your eyes is a good way to relieve that tired, irritated feeling, but it’s not. Rubbing can break the delicate blood vessels running through your eyelids or expose your eyes to contaminating substances. Applying a cold compress or placing used damp tea bags on your closed lids for a few minutes are better eye care alternatives. 

In addition to protecting your eyes from the above, turn to the office of Dr. Matthew Lipparelli, O.D in Elko County, NV, for quality eye care. His skilled and experienced staff provide comprehensive vision services starting with eye exams for children, teens, and adults; they also have a wide range of prescription glasses and contact lenses to correct vision. Learn more about their offerings online. Then call (775) 753-5353 to schedule an optometrist appointment.