4 Habits That Could Be Affecting Your Eye Health, According To Our Optometrist

Anyone who has ever had any minor eye irritation knows just how annoying eye-health problems can be. However, many of us aren't doing the most we can for our eyes, which is why the chances of having eye issues in the future are very real. To ensure our (and your) eyes stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible, we reached out to optometrist and private practice owner Dr. Jen Wademan, O.D., to tell us just which habits could lead to eye problems in the future.

Luckily, all of the habits that Dr. Wademan exclusively shared with us can be easily improved, so if you're guilty of any of them, today is a great day to implement some changes to your routines. Your eyes — which are easy to take for granted and are actually doing all the work as you read this article — will thank you. And if you aren't guilty of any of these habits, congrats, you're nailing that whole "responsible and health-aware adult" thing!

Wearing contacts can be a lifesaver for those who hate glasses or simply can't wear them due to their job or lifestyle. However, even those who occasionally wear colored contacts should be mindful of a few things. Unlike glasses, contacts allow bacteria to directly enter your eyes, which is why proper hygiene is key. Dr. Jen Wademan lists "sleeping in contacts, swimming in contacts or showering in contacts, not cleaning contacts with proper solution, and [not] using good hygiene" as some of the most common habits of contact-wearers that could impact their eye health.

"Some rare but visually devastating infections can occur with these types of habits," Dr. Wademan tells us exclusively. "These infections have the potential to lead to severe vision loss, need [for] corneal transplants, or even eye enucleation." What is enucleation, you might ask? Sadly, it's when "the globe of your eye" is "remove[d]" to cut off serious concerns like eye cancer, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 

While the above habits don't necessarily have to result in problems immediately, those who are guilty of them regularly are at a high risk of negatively affecting their eye health. "Treatment of these types of infections can be difficult for the doctor and the patient," Dr. Wademan adds. As such, it's better to avoid needing treatment in the first place.

Another habit that Dr. Jen Wademan lists as a potential health problem for your eyes is "not getting a yearly comprehensive eye exam, especially if you're diabetic or have hypertension." While everyone should get their eyes checked yearly, those who already have health conditions like diabetes are often more prone to having eye problems.

"These systemic conditions can have a major impact on eye health and vision," Dr. Wademan explains exclusively to Glam. "Other conditions like autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, even cancer, can show up in the eyes." Naturally, the best course of action, then, is to receive a comprehensive exam every year to ensure your remain in the best health possible. If caught early on through an eye exam, these conditions can be treated immediately, which means that an eye exam isn't only preventative for eye issues but also potentially your overall health.

We've stressed the importance of properly removing your makeup before bed numerous times, especially because it negatively affects your skin, but now, thanks to Dr. Jen Wademan, we also know that not removing your makeup can also negatively affect your eyes. "[It] can cause a lot of issues, sometimes more chronic, like styes, ocular surface disease (dry eye disease), and Demodex blepharitis (this is a condition that involves a proliferation of parasitic mites around our lashes)," Dr. Jen Wademan tells us exclusively. "Symptoms like dry, gritty, watering, light sensitive eyes can have an impact, especially if you wear contact lenses."

Even though some of these conditions don't necessarily seem awful — we've all experienced an itchy or watery eye every now and then — the truth is that, when prolonged, these issues can cause more severe health problems. "Ocular surface disease can have a huge impact on quality of life — patients who have severe dry eye are often linked to higher degrees of depression," Dr. Wademan explains. Because of this — and more — it's always a good idea to nip dry eyes in the bug, beginning with making sure all of your makeup has been removed before hitting the hay.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

If you experience eye redness regularly, chances are that you have a bottle of eye drops, which usually works quickly and helps you look fresh and awake. However, going overboard with them can do more harm than good. "Redness is a symptom related to a particular cause, like inflammation, infection or allergy," Dr. Jen Wademan shares exclusively with Glam. "Most of these OTC redness relief drops offer temporary relief and don't address the cause of the redness." So, if you're experiencing consistent eye redness, scheduling an eye checkup is the best thing you can do for it.

"In addition, some of these popular redness relief eye drops contain an ingredient that can cause rebound redness after you stop using the drop, which, in turn, makes you have to use it more," Dr. Wademan adds, stressing that those who begin using redness relief eye drops often end up overusing them. Now, if you're guilty of having a few bottles of redness relief eye drops at home, check out this acne hack that you can use them for.