Just like any other organ in your body, your eyes are affected by age. You cannot prevent the aging process and gradual deterioration of your sight, but you can certainly slow it down. If you have one of the bad habits listed below, it is recommended you stop as soon as possible, as they will only accelerate the aging process, according to AllAboutVision.
One of the greatest dangers to the eyes are UV and HEV (high-energy visible) rays. If you constantly forget your sunglasses, you expose your eyes to these harmful sun rays, putting yourself at risk of photokeratitis, cataracts, macular degeneration, pinguecula and pterygium. Make it a habit to wear quality sunglasses – even on grey days – as these rays can even break through clouds.
Smoking is another habit that contributes to faster aging of the eyes. It has been linked to a number of conditions that affect your sight, including cataracts, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
Your diet is also extremely important; if you favour junk food and persistently neglect fruit and vegetables, do not expect to have healthy eyes in your old age. You need a diet featuring plenty of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. Hydration is equally important: not drinking enough water can lead to problems such as dry eyes and puffy eyelids.
You are also subjecting your eyes to additional strain if you deprive yourself of a sufficient amount of quality sleep. Aside from unappealing physical signs (dark circles, bloodshot eyes), there are other problems associated with lack of quality sleep: dry eyes and blurry vision being some of them.