Rubbing your eyes makes you age faster than your age
Many people have the habit of rubbing their eyes to feel better. However, according to experts, this action leads to more harm than good. In particular, it also causes the risk of vision loss and makes you age prematurely.
Photo: MH |
Share withMen's Health, doctorAnupama B. Horne, head of ophthalmology at Duke University Medical Center, says we tend to rub our eyes when they are itchy or stressed. "Rubbing your eyes stimulates the lacrimal glands, which moisturizes dry, tired eyes and removes foreign objects. It also triggers the cardio-ocular reflex, which means it puts pressure on the eyeballs to slow the heart rate, thereby reducing stress," Dr. Horne explains.
However, rubbing your eyes too hard and too often will damage your eyes and related structures. If dust, eyelashes or other foreign objects are on the surface of your eyes, rubbing will scratch your cornea. You will feel pain and discomfort because something is stuck in your eyes and will not come out, and you will have continuous tears, red eyes, and sensitivity to light. Not to mention, the whites of your eyes are easily red due to broken blood vessels and the surrounding skin will be dark. As a result, you will look gaunt and old.
More dangerously, in some patients, excessive eye rubbing can also lead to Keratoconus in which the cornea becomes thin and deformed. At this point, vision is significantly reduced and the patient will need surgery.
To protect your eyes, use eye drops instead of rubbing them. If you want to reduce stress, try taking deep breaths.