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5 Harmful Habits That Could Be Prematurely Aging Your Eyes

Thursday, September 18th, 2014, 9:15 am

Harmful Eye Aging HabitsMany people avoid practicing bad habits that could prematurely age their facial appearance or their skin. However, these same people may be unwittingly doing things that could be aging their eyes.

Here are five habits you should steer clear of to avoid harming your vision.

Leaving Your Sunglasses At Home

Even on cloudy days, the sun emits harsh ultraviolet (UV) rays that can burn the front of your eyes. Constant UV exposure may also cause certain eye diseases, including macular degeneration and cataracts as well as pterygium, or “surfer’s eye,” an irregular growth on the clear tissue of the eye. Avoid these eye problems — and stay fashionable — by wearing your sunglasses, even on overcast days.

Being Rough With Your Eyes

The skin around your eyes — not to mention the eyes themselves — is extremely sensitive. Constantly rubbing your eyes can damage the blood vessels lying beneath the surface of the skin. Also, pulling or tugging on the skin around your eyes can lead to noticeable signs of aging in the area, such as dark circles beneath the eyes, puffiness, drooping eyelids and wrinkles around the edges (e.g. crow’s feet).

Not Getting Enough Shut-Eye

On average, adults need seven to eight hours of sleep every night to stay healthy. Not getting enough quality shut-eye can lead to a host of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, mood swings, weight gain and other concerns. In addition, continuously missing out on sleep can leave you with bloodshot eyes, blurred eyesight and twitches in your eye.

Smoking

Almost everyone knows to avoid smoking due to the increased risk of lung cancer, emphysema and heart disease. However, did you know that smoking can also have serious negative effects on your eyes? Individuals who smoke are up to four times more likely to suffer irreversible blindness than those who do not smoke. If you smoke, quit! It is never too late to decrease your risk of suffering smoking-related eye diseases.

Skipping Your Annual Eye Exam

Many individuals do not visit the ophthalmologist until they experience a problem with their vision. This is a dangerous practice, because many eye health issues do not present any symptoms in the early stages. More importantly, certain eye conditions, including glaucoma, can cause irreversible vision loss if left untreated. The good news is that glaucoma and other eye diseases can be managed if detected early. That is why it is crucial not to skip your annual eye exams. Your eyesight will thank you.

If you are overdue for your yearly eye exam, schedule an appointment with Dr. Skouras to check your vision health. To do so, please contact Toronto eye care practice Skouras Eye Centre by calling (416) 590-0445 today.

About Dr Skouras

Dr. Skouras has been practising ophthalmology and Lasik in Toronto for 20 years. He completed his medical and ophthalmology training at the University of Toronto. For over a decade, Dr. Skouras has made refractive surgery a focus of his general ophthalmology practice and has worked with many of the lasers widely used today. Dr. Skouras emphasizes on providing only the best patient care and believes in using only the latest most advanced technology available to optimize his patients’ results.


Category: General Category, General Eye Care

Why Choose Skouras Eye & Cosmetic Centre for your Lasik Surgery?

As one of the leading comprehensive eye care facilities in Toronto, it’s easy to see why so many people choose Skouras Eye & Cosmetic Centre for their eye care and cosmetic treatment. Skouras Eye & Cosmetics offers a comprehensive selection of eye care services, from LASIK laser vision correction surgery to the treatment of complex eye conditions such as glaucoma and keratoconus. Our eyecare services extend to complete dry eye management, and contact lens dispensing. Moreover, we offer a number of cosmetic facial treatments, including Botox, Dermal Fillers, Latisse and Thermage.

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