Our eyes are our windows to the world, allowing us to see and experience everything around us. However, many of us take our eyesight for granted and fail to realize that certain habits can put our vision at risk.

Here are three habits that can increase the risk of losing your eyesight:.

1. Smoking

Smoking is easily one of the most damaging habits when it comes to eye health. It increases the risk of developing cataracts, macular degeneration, optic nerve damage, and even blindness.

In fact, smokers are twice as likely to develop macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 60.

Not only does smoking harm your own eyesight, but the secondhand smoke that you exhale can harm those around you, especially children.

2. Not Protecting Your Eyes from the Sun

Many of us don’t realize the importance of protecting our eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Without protection, our eyes are at risk of developing both short-term and long-term damage.

In the short term, unprotected exposure to the sun can cause photokeratitis, which is essentially a sunburn on the surface of the eye. This is very painful and can cause temporary vision loss.

In the long term, exposure to the sun without protection can increase the risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration, both of which can lead to the loss of eyesight.

To protect your eyes, make sure to wear sunglasses that block 100% of both UVA and UVB radiation. Also, if you spend a lot of time outdoors, wear a hat with a brim to shade your eyes from the sun.

3. Not Getting Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep is important for our overall health, but it also plays a role in eye health. When we don’t get enough sleep, our eyes can become dry and irritated, which can cause temporary vision problems.

Chronic sleep deprivation can increase the risk of developing conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration. These conditions can cause permanent vision loss if not treated early on.

To keep your eyes healthy, make sure to get enough sleep each night. Adults should aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night, while children and teenagers need more.

Conclusion

By avoiding these three habits and taking steps to protect your eyes, you can decrease your risk of losing your eyesight. Remember to quit smoking, wear sunglasses when outside, and make sure to get enough sleep each night.