Most people are ignorant about basic eye health and hygiene. Ensuring proper protection and maintaining accurate eye hygiene can assist one to keep away further issues arising from negligence which can even make someone’s vision partial and also totally blind. Basic eye care can also help in avoiding common issues like eye allergies, conjunctivitis, redness, puffiness, etc.

Some easy but important eye healthcare guidelines which will help to safeguard your eyes and to combat any infection under any circumstances are listed below-

Use of Ultraviolet Goggles – We need to be careful while choosing our sunglasses. If an individual has to get exposed to the morning sun or be in the outdoor area for long hours, then it is always advised to make use of ultraviolet protective sunglasses only.  This will help to prevent eye allergies and long-term eye diseases.

Avoid Contacting the Eyes with Unclean Hands– Do not rub your eyes with unwashed hands, especially if you are outdoors and in public places, after shaking hands with other fellows or if you are in a state of heavy sweating. We, ourselves might become the career of infections or allergies to our eyes.

Be Careful With The Tear Film – It is necessary to avoid splashing water heavily inside our eyes. This may damage the tear film which is a protective layer. We must wash our eyes only if foreign particles like dust enter our eyes and cause irritation.

However, it is a requisite responsibility to clean our hands and face once we reach our home as this prevents dust and grime from entering our eyes and causing eye allergies. But this action must be undertaken very carefully. One should not be in a hurry or negligent while cleaning the face and eyes. A minor fault may lead to major damage as our eyes are the most sensitive organ in our body.

Be Cautious With Your Contact Lenses – Extra care is imperative for those who are regular users of contact lenses. Going to bed wearing the same is dangerous to eye safety and should not be worn for more than 16 hours. It might impact the cornea.

For maintaining an accurate vision it is always requested to the users stick to the Do’s and Don’ts mentioned clearly by the ophthalmologists. One needs to be extra cautious regarding the Liquid which is used to wash the Lenses. The Date of Manufacture and the Period Of Its Expiry should be checked. Do not buy the liquid which has exceeded its expiry date or has no mention of this credential.

Take Caution Regarding Cosmetics Applied On The Eyes – Cosmetics have become an integral part of our day-to-day life. While decorating our eyes to impart a unique appearance to our personality, some safety and hygiene measures need to be considered seriously.

Avoid sharing any common handkerchiefs, towels, toiletries, etc. Do not share common eye cosmetics. Eye makeup should be light, especially during the daytime.

If Eye shadows are applied then they should not spill over into the eyes.

Ensure the application of waterproof mascara. Melted mascara can be harmful to the eyes. As Mascara is mainly used to make Eye Lashes look elongated and beautiful but this artificial appearance is a threat in disguise to the safety of our eyes. Mascaras contain Fibers that can cause irritation and even when it enters the eye can cause blurred vision.

Be careful while using eyeliner. It should not get into contact with the eyes directly.

Refrain from applying Glittery Eye Cosmetics. Such metallic products cause heavy irritation in our eyes and may lead to serious damage like a deep scratch in the Cornea. It can permanently destroy the visionary capability if a person is wearing contact lenses.

High obsession with Eye Cosmetics can be an influential factor in causing ‘Corneal Abrasion’. The term ‘Corneal Abrasion’ refers to a particular kind of eye injury. This is caused when someone is applying eye makeup in a moving car or bus and the vehicle suddenly undergoes an abrupt slowdown and the individual hits her eye with the brush or the eyeliner or a sharp Eye Kajal stick. Such a state can lead to a severe scratch in the Cornea section.

Today, among women there’s a habit of using imposed Eyelash Extensions. Such eye cosmetics are undoubtedly short spanned and so any user is always reluctant to wash the eyes thoroughly as these eyelashes might fall off. This can prove to be dangerous. Prolonged application with no cleaning will become the dominant reason for a serious eye infection.

Be careful while removing the eye makeup, if somehow makeup goes inside the eyes, then rinse fast with cold water and don’t rub. Always remove makeup before retiring to bed no matter how late it may be.

So, don’t forget to follow the basic principles of eye health and hygiene. Let us prioritize the safety of our eyes and also secure it.

About the author- Dr. Ipsita Basu, DO, DNB, DipNB, Consultant – Pediatric Ophthalmology, Disha Eye Hospitals