11 Eye-Harming Habits You Might Do Daily

Your daily habits could be hurting your eyes without you realizing it. From screen time to skipping sunglasses, many common behaviors put your vision at risk. The good news? Simple changes can protect your sight. Here are 11 eye-damaging habits to watch out for - and easy fixes for each.

1. Staring at screens up close for too long

Harm:
Long, close screen time (phones, computers) can cause or worsen myopia. Each extra minute of daily close-up use raises kids’ myopia risk by 2.6%.

Fix:

· Follow the "20-20-20" rule: Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet (≈6m) away for 20 seconds to relax eyes.

· Sit arm’s length (≈63.5cm) from screens; gaze slightly downward.

2. Rubbing eyes when tired

Harm:
Hands carry germs—rubbing can lead to eye infections or inflammation.

Fix:
Close your eyes to rest or look into the distance instead.

3. Looking at your phone while walking

Harm:
Beyond straining eyes, it raises accident risks (falls, crashes, hitting objects).

Fix:
Put your phone away and focus on walking.

4. Skipping sunglasses in bright sun

Harm:
Strong UV rays damage eyes—long-term exposure may cause keratitis, cataracts, or retinal harm.

Fix:
Wear sunglasses labeled "100% UV protection" or "UV400" in bright sun.

5. Overusing "eye care" drops

Harm:
Eye drops need a doctor’s guidance. Steroid drops can cause blindness; antibiotics disrupt eye flora; others harm the cornea.

Fix:
See a doctor for discomfort. Use artificial tears temporarily if needed—seek help if no improvement in 2–3 days.

6. Misusing eye wash

Harm:
Most eye washes have antibiotics or preservatives, which can disrupt the eye’s natural balance or damage the cornea.

Fix:
Healthy eyes self-clean. "Dirt" washed out (dead cells, dust) exits naturally as tears or eye gunk.

7. Handling contacts carelessly

Harm:
Dirty hands transfer germs to contacts, causing infections.

Fix:
Wash hands with soap, dry with a clean cloth, before touching contacts.

8. Sleeping in contacts

Harm:
Sleeping in contacts raises infection risk 6–8 times.

Fix:
Always remove them before bed! If you forget:

· Blink more or use drops to moisten lenses, then remove gently.

· Skip contacts that day; wear glasses.

· See a doctor if discomfort lasts hours.

9. Skipping regular eye exams

Harm:
Many eye diseases (like glaucoma) have no early signs—late detection can cause severe damage.

Fix:
Get regular eye checks as recommended.

For kids: 1. Staying indoors too much

Harm:
More indoor/screen time raises myopia risk. Kids with less outdoor time are 2–3 times more likely to be myopic.

Fix:
Ensure 2+ hours of daily outdoor time to prevent or slow myopia.

For kids: 2. Uncorrected or poorly fitted glasses

Harm:
Untreated myopia or wrong prescriptions speed up vision loss.

Fix:
Get regular checks. If myopia is found, get glasses from a qualified clinic ASAP.