Bad habits that age your eyes

Είστε νυχτοπούλι; εραστής των fast food ή λάτρεις της ηλιοθεραπείας; Έχετε πολλές πιθανότητες για πρόωρη γήρανση των μάτιών σας - μέσα και έξω! Δείτε πώς...

1.Stop Rubbing Your Eyes.

Excessive eye rubbing can hurt the network of blood vessels underneath your eyes, potentially making dark circles more prominent, and leading to puffiness, redness, and wrinkles, according to Dr. Jennifer Linder, a dermatologist in Scottsdale, AZ. Constant rubbing can also make your eyes itch more, fueling the vicious cycle. Keep your hands to yourself and consider taking a non-drowsy antihistamine like Claritin if allergies are causing itchiness, suggests Linder.

3. Smoking

There are many components in cigarette smoke that are toxic -- nicotine, carbon monoxide, tar -- they alter the nutrients that need to reach the eye; they upset the eye chemistry. Nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke are thought to be important causes of arteries losing their elasticity. This means that arteries respond less well to fluctuations in pressure and are more likely to rupture. An even bigger problem is the damage to blood vessels from smoking. The vessels behind the eye can be compromised, which cuts off the flow of oxygen to the eye. Smoking can increase your risk of suffering from cataracts and retinal diseases that lead to vision loss. It also worsens existing eye problems -- age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and optic nerve damage.

4. Lack of quality sleep..

Most people experience sallow skin and puffy eyes after a few nights of missed sleep. But chronic sleep loss can lead to lackluster skin, fine lines, and dark circles under the eyes. When you don't get enough sleep, your body releases more of the stress hormone cortisol. In excess amounts, cortisol can break down skin collagen, the protein that keeps skin smooth and elastic.

6. Eating Poorly !

A lot of junk food can do more than adding inches to your waistline; it may also age your eyes. A diet rich in foods such as those containing beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, lutein and omega-3 fatty acids can help keep your eyes healthy. Eating too much fast food and not enough fruits and vegetables? Then you're probably not getting the necessary vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids for optimum eye health.

2. Forgetting Your Sunglasses ...

Wearing sunglasses is an easy way to protect your eyes against the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Overexposure to UV radiation can sunburn the surface of your eyes. It can also lead to certain eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, pterygium (a growth on the clear tissue of the eye that is often referred to as "Surfer's Eye") and other ocular conditions. To keep your eyes healthy, don't forget to wear your sunglasses outside, even on cloudy days! Exposing your eyes to the sun's harmful UV and high-energy visible (HEV) rays is a surefire way to prematurely age and damage your eyes and eyelids.

5. Not Drinking Enough Water

Not getting the recommended eight glasses of water a day and eating a high-sodium diet can cause your body to dehydrate and in turn not produce enough tears to keep your eyes moist and properly nourished.

7. Not seeing your eye doctor..

It is common for adults to visit the eye doctor only when they detect a problem with their vision. But it may be worth it to visit more often, because certain eye diseases, such as glaucoma, are much more manageable if treated in the early stages of the disease - and can cause permanent vision loss if left completely untreated.