If you want to protect your ocular health in the long and short term, avoid these behaviors.
Eye health is an easy area to overlook for many people that is, until a problem arises.
Visual decline, infection, injury and other ocular issues are fairly common, especially as we age.
HuffPost asked eye doctors to share the things they never do in the interest of their ocular health.
Read on for the behaviors they avoid.
They dont sleep in contact lenses.
William McLaughlin, an optometrist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
But its really important to have a go at remember to take out your contacts in these situations.
Sleeping in contacts allows for microbes and bacteria from the contact lens to multiply overnight, saidDr.
Ella Faktorovich, an eye doctor and founder of Pacific Vision Institute.
They dont stare closely at a screen for too long without breaks.
Myopia typically develops in childhood and then deteriorates until the late teenage years.
She recommended following the 20-20-20 Rule for preventing and relieving digital eye strain.
The method involves taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away.
Easing your eye strain can improve your overall eye health as you age.
Other procedures to help presbyopia may be lens replacement surgery.
They dont put off eye exams.
Those diagnosed with diabetes are at increased risk of developing retinopathy, notedDr.
Barbara Mihalik, an optometrist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
They dont ignore a sudden vision change.
If caught early, this problem can be treated before the retina detaches, she added.
If you ever do develop new onset floaters and flashing lights, call your eye care provider right away.
They dont leave makeup on overnight.
Avnish Deobhakta, an ophthalmologist at theNew YorkEye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai.
Failing to remove your makeup can lead to eye infections and adversely impact your eye lubrication.
These artificial tears are made with substances that help lubricate the surface of the eye.
However, importantly, they do not have preservatives, which can sometimes cause side effects.
We often advocate using them three to four times a day.
They dont stare at the sun.
People should never look directly at the sun, Faktorovich said.
They dont smoke or vape.
In other words, avoid smoking and vaping if you want a lifetime of healthy eyes.
They dont rinse contact lenses in tap water.
Mihalik noted that she would never use tap water to rinse contact lenses.
I never forget to discard my contact lenses in the prescribed time period, McLaughlin said.
