Do you have dry eye syndrome? If so, you may be making it worse without knowing it. Staring at computer or TV screens and drinking soda are two habits to avoid.
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Have your eyes seemed abnormally dry lately? Do they itch or irritate you? Have you been unusually sensitive to light? If so, you may have dry eye syndrome, a condition in which the tears in your eye fail to nourish it as well as they should. Having dry eye syndrome can be uncomfortable to the point where it interferes with your day-to-day life. In fact, people who have it are three times as likely than others to experience problems with reading, driving, and working on the computer. For these reasons, it is important to manage dry eye symptoms in any way you can. Below are some habits that, if avoided, may help you do this.
Staring At Screens For Hours
Many people become slaves to their television screens, watching their favorite shows for hours on end. Others may have jobs where a lot of computer staring is required. If this sounds like you, it may be time to admit that this could be the cause of your dry eye problem. When staring at screens, people blink much less than when doing other activities, effectively preventing their eyes from getting the moisture they need. So to stop this habit from drying out your eyes, try these tips:
Do blinking exercises. For every 30 minutes of screen staring, it is recommended that people perform blinking exercises. One such exercise involves closing your eyes and squeezing them for 5 seconds. After this, open your eyes and relax them for 5 seconds. This can be repeated 6 or 7 times for best results.
Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Whenever you’re watching TV or working on the computer, make sure to look away from the screen every 20 minutes. Look at an object approximately 20 meters away and do this for 20 seconds.
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Drinking Soda
You may love having your favorite carbonated drink at the end of the day, but this habit won’t do your eyes any favors. Sodas contain lots of sugar, a known cause of dry eyes. So to kick the soda habit, consider doing the following:
Drink water instead. You may balk at this idea, but over time you will find that water can be a great substitute for soda. If you wish to add taste to your water, consider adding a sprig of mint or a frozen strawberry to it.
Keep soda out of arm’s reach. If you want to kick your soda drinking habit, the easiest way to do this is to remove all temptation from your home. So if you’re the grocery shopper of your household, resist the urge to buy soda. Instead find fun alternatives to it, such as green tea.
Knowing some habits which contribute to dry eyes should help you to manage your symptoms better. If you have any other questions about how to prevent dry eyes, it would be best to ask them to an optometrist.