The holiday season is in full swing, and most people are probably trying to find the best way to keep their eyes healthy during the festivities. In this blog, we’ll discuss eye care tips for you so that you can enjoy your time with friends and family this season without worrying about your eye health!
Excessive Intake of Alcohol
Do you love wine at holiday dinners? How about a glass of champagne when someone brings in the New Year? Well, unfortunately, it’s not great for your eye. Alcohol decreases tear production by inhibiting glands called lacrimals, which are responsible for producing tears. Drinking alcohol also raises blood pressure, which is harmful to all body parts, including the eyes. So if you would like to keep your eyes healthy this holiday season, try to moderate your alcohol consumption.
Staring at Screens
Are you spending a lot of time looking at screens this holiday season? Whether you’re scrolling through Facebook or watching Netflix, all that screen time can be bad for your eyes. Staring at screens for long periods can cause dryness, irritation, and even blurry vision, possibly something you don’t want to deal with during the holidays!
Overexposure to Computer Screens
Do you work from home or have a family member that works on their computer all day? If so, they will probably spend more time in front of screens than normal this holiday season. Screens emit blue light-emitting devices like TVs, cellphones, laptops, tablets, etc., which can cause severe damage to your eyes if not protected by special lenses. That’s why it’s essential to take precautions when using screens or any other type of lighting device emitting blue light. Use computer glasses that can help protect your eyes from the harmful effects of blue light.
Holiday Activities
Are you going ice skating, skiing, or sledging this holiday season? If so, be careful! These activities can be dangerous for your eyes if you’re not wearing the proper protection.
Fireworks
Are you planning on watching fireworks on New Year’s Eve? Be sure to keep a safe distance from the display and wear protective eyewear! Fireworks can cause serious eye injuries if not watched carefully. Therefore, it is always important to have protective eyewear when watching fireworks, regardless of whether close or far away from the display. Use protective eyewear so you can keep your eyes protected in all kinds of situations.
Technology in the Kitchen
Do you find yourself spending more time in the kitchen than normal during this season? Unfortunately, that might not be great for your eyes. Modern appliances like microwaves, ovens and dishwashers emit UV radiation linked to eye conditions like lens opacities, macular degeneration, and cataracts. Therefore, it is vital to protect your eyes while using modern technology in the kitchen.
Cooking
On top of exposure to harmful UV radiation from modern appliances, cooking foods at high temperatures can also cause damage to your eyes over time. High-temperature cooking, such as frying and grilling, can damage the eyes due to high levels of infrared radiation. Therefore, it is vital to wear protective eyewear when exposed to radiation to protect your eyes from potential harm.
Your Pets
Do you have pets this holiday season? If so, they might be harming your vision! Cats and dogs both carry a microscopic parasite called Toxoplasma Gondi which can cause infection if it enters humans, most commonly through infected cat faces (via litter boxes). Infection with this parasitic disease has been linked to eye issues like conjunctivitis and uveitis. However, if detected early enough, the prognosis is often for restoring good vision with treatment.
However, this doesn’t mean that you should stay away from your pet this season. Visit Belson opticians and learn how to stay with your pet without worrying about your eyes.
Holiday Lights
Are you spending a lot of time looking at decorative lights this holiday season? Don’t miss out on the beauty of Christmas lights because you are too busy worrying about your eyesight! LED’s in particular, can be damaging to one’s vision if not watched carefully with proper protection.
Conclusion
We remind everyone about the dangers of improper protection while viewing devices emitting harmful UV radiation and blue light, whether you’re watching fireworks, cooking, working on the computer, or just admiring Christmas lights. Make sure that you protect your eyes accordingly this holiday season.