7 Everyday Things That Can Affect and Even Harm Your Eyesight

1. Using Your Gadgets For Hours
Constant texting, e-mailing and reading online can affect our eyes. Using computers and smartphones all the time strains our eyes – especially smartphones, as they have much smaller screens than computers.
For adults, eye strain alone won’t cause you to become short-sighted as the eyes are already fully developed. However, long-term eye strain can affect the quality of vision – things may look blurred, and we may feel throbbing pain around our eyes. These problems, however, go away when we give our eyes enough rest.



2. Staring Hard At Screens
Dry eyes are a common problem. When we’re using computers and handheld devices, we blink less, focus on one small area, and don’t take enough breaks. That can reduce the amount of tears we produce – and it’s a problem, because tears moisturise our eyes. Decreased tear secretion may cause mild discomfort, tearing, blurred vision, or a ‘sandy’ sensation in your eyes.
You can use eye drops for relief, as they act as artificial tears. But it’s best to change your habits. Whenever your eyes feel uncomfortable or start to tear up, stop work.



3. Using Illuminated Devices In The Dark
Don’t use gadgets in your darkened bedroom at night. Your pupils act as shutters that control how much light enters your eyes, and they dilate in a dark room. If you’re looking at a bright gadget, such as your smartphone or tablet, while your pupils are dilated, too much light will enter your eyes. They will quickly feel tired as they try to cope with the difference between the background darkness and the light source.
Watching television in the dark is not as bad, because we usually do it from a distance. In contrast, we tend to hold handheld devices close to our eyes.



4. The Side Effects of Lasik Surgery
Lasik surgery is done to correct myopia or astigmatism, and is generally safe. But it may have side effects, the most common being dry eyes, which usually goes away within a month. Other side effects include seeing halos and even starbursts. Lasik patients may also experience a drop in their quality of vision, especially at night or in dim places. But these usually disappear in around three months.



5. Using Eye Creams
Eye creams are for the skin around the eyes, so they should not affect your eyes. But if your eyes smart, you may be applying the cream too close to the eyelid, allowing it to enter your eyes. If you get a rash, itch, or redness on the skin around the eyes, wash your eyes at once. If your eyes become red, see a doctor, who can prescribe eye drops to solve the problem.



6. Air-conditioning
Also, spending all our time in an air-conditioned environment will not have an effect on our eyesight, although it can make dry eyes feel worse.



7. Artificial Light Can Help
We spend almost all our time under artificial light – at the office, in malls, and even at home. But, contrary to popular belief, long-term exposure to artificial lighting has no impact on your eyes. It’s better to do your work in a well-lit room to avoid straining your eyes.