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Staying in good physical condition also means looking after your eyes. As we age, the cumulative effect of certain bad habits and diseases can affect our eyesight. But what behaviours should we avoid to better preserve it?

Neglecting to have regular eye exams

“That’s certainly the worst thing, because glasses are not the only thing to help you see clearly, timely screening is just as important. After the vision assessment, the optometrist will check the health of your eyes. As we age, we know that there is an increased incidence of diseases like macular degeneration, glaucoma, etc. Many of them are insidious, since they cause no symptoms, but can be irreversible,” says Dr. Éric Poulin, president of the Ordre des optométristes du Québec (OOQ).

Not wearing sunglasses or protective goggles

Sunlight is made up of ultraviolet rays, which are very damaging to the eyes. They also increase the risk of macular degeneration, an incurable disease characterized by the gradual loss of central vision. High exposure to the sun is likely to lead to an earlier and more serious manifestation of degeneration. Wearing sunglasses is therefore essential.

As for safety goggles, every gardener or DIY enthusiast, for example, should be equipped with them to prevent foreign bodies from entering the eyes.

Smoking

“As it is for just about every type of human tissue, smoking is bad for the eyes!” exclaims Dr. Poulin.

Cigarette smoke contains all kinds of toxins. Here again, scientific evidence on macular degeneration indicates that smokers are much more likely to go blind. The toxins will break small blood vessels in the back of the eye, making it less healthy and causing it to decay faster. In addition, it’s important to eat a diet rich in fruit and vegetables for their valuable contribution of minerals and antioxidant vitamins, and to exercise.

Exposing your eyes to a screen without a break

While computer screens, tablets and smartphones do not in themselves present a real danger to the eyes, their use can cause eyestrain, headaches, irritation, and tingling. If you wear glasses, the most important thing is to make sure that they correct your eyesight properly. And to keep the eye well hydrated, follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, give yourself a 20 second break to look more than 20 feet away. When we stare at a screen, the blink reflex diminishes, so you need to force it to rehydrate the eye.

Ignoring systemic diseases

“Finally, there’s a greater risk of visual problems when systemic diseases are poorly controlled. For example, the eyes are weakened by diabetes and high blood pressure, which have an impact on the blood vessels that feed the eye’s structures. Because the eyes are insufficiently hydrated, they are less able to protect themselves,” says the OOQ president.