When you discover issues with your eyes or nearsightedness, it's essential to visit an ophthalmologist for a comprehensive examination. However, it's also important to know how to better protect your glasses in your daily life.

1. Remove Makeup and Contact Lenses:

After a long day, taking a few minutes for eye care is crucial. Start by gently removing makeup, paying attention to the area around your eyes. Avoid using harsh products or rubbing your eyes vigorously. When removing contact lenses, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly and dry them to prevent dirt and bacteria from enteringur eyes. Properly cleansing your face and eyes is essential for preventing infections and maintaining fresh and comfortable eyes.

2. Don't Forget to Wash Your Hands:

Before touching your face, eyes, or handling contact lenses, it's essential to wash your hands thoroughly. Approximately 45 million Americans wear contact lenses, but about 1 in 3 wearers experiences complications, and 1 in 5 contact lens-related infections leads to corneal damage. Additionally, you never know what bacteria might be on objects touched by someone unknowingly contaminated. The CDC reports that regular handwashing can reduce the risk of respiratory diseases by up to 21% and diarrheal diseases by up to 40%.

3. Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes:

It's natural to want to rub your eyes when they feel itchy or tired, but doing so can have adverse effects. Continuous eye rubbing can cause redness, inflammation, and even damage to the delicate tissues around the eyes. Instead of rubbing, consider using medical eye drops or soothing agents recommended by a physician. Using topical medications that disrupt the eye's acid-base balance is not advisable. It's better to take breaks, practice eye exercises, and maintain a healthy lifestyle to alleviate eye fatigue.

4. Limit Screen Time:

In today's digital age, many of us spend extended hours in front of screens, including computers, smartphones, and tablets. Prolonged screen use can lead to eye strain, dryness, exposure to harmful blue light, and potential disruptions in sleep patterns. To protect your eyes, follow the "20-20-20" rule (take a 20-second break every 20 minutes and look at something over 20 feet away). Additionally, consider using blue light filters or computer glasses to minimize the impact of digital screens on your eyes.

5. Take Breaks from Reading:

Whether you're a student who reads textbooks extensively or someone who enjoys reading novels, giving your eyes a break is essential. Prolonged reading can lead to eye strain and discomfort. Take regular breaks, close your eyes, focus on distant objects, or engage in eye relaxation techniques to reduce eye fatigue.

6. Eye Massage:

Eye massage is a soothing method to relax the blood vessels and nerves around your eyes. Gently massage the closed eyelids in circular motions with clean fingertips for 1 to 2 minutes. This can alleviate eye strain, reduce puffiness, and promote better blood circulation.

7. Look into the Distance:

Spending long hours indoors, especially in front of screens, can tire your eyes. Whenever possible, take time to look into the distance, even if it's just outside a window. Viewing greenery, natural landscapes, or the horizon can refresh your eyes and reduce eye strain.

8. Maintain a Balanced Diet:

Proper nutrition is fundamental for maintaining eye health. Ensure that your diet includes foods rich in essential nutrients that support your eyes, such as vitamin A, C, E, beta-carotene, omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zeaxanthin, and zinc. These nutrients promote cell growth, reduce inflammation, and protect against damage from free radicals. Consider including foods like apricots, carrots, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, red peppers, mangoes (rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene), citrus fruits, almonds, peanut butter (sources of vitamin E), salmon, tuna, trout (rich in omega-3 fatty acids), and green leafy vegetables, kale, spinach, peas, and eggs (containing lutein and zeaxanthin), as well as lean meats, oysters, poultry, beans, and fortified cereals (sources of zinc).

9. Avoid Excessive Smartphone Use in Bed:

Younger generations often have the habit of using smartphones while lying down. However, this habit can strain one eye significantly and may lead to discomfort and potential vision problems. To protect your eyes, limit smartphone use in bed or ensure that both eyes can comfortably view the screen by propping up your body.

By following these expanded tips and incorporating them into your daily habits, you can significantly contribute to the health and well-being of your eyes. Don't forget the importance of regular eye examinations by an optometrist to monitor eye health and address any concerns promptly."