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The human eye is a wonderful thing.
It is considered the most complex organ in the human body after the brain, containing over 2 million working parts. About 80% of learning occurs visually.
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So how can we keep our eyes in tip-top shape? And what should we do no way What if we want them to stay as healthy as possible?
That’s Us – Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, hosts of HuffPost’s “Am I Doing Something Wrong?” Podcast – Dr. Amanda Redfern asks, An ophthalmologist and assistant professor at the Casey Eye Institute at Oregon Health & Science University, she recently came to our studio.
“[Sleeping with contact lenses in your eyes] Very bad. It’s just too bad. Don’t do it,” Redfern told us, adding that this even applies to naps. “It’s like a game of Russian roulette. “
This is because you may develop a corneal ulcer, which is an infection of the part of the eye covered by the contact lens.
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“It doesn’t happen every time, but when it does, it’s terrible,” Redfern said. “It can be very bad and in very bad cases you can lose your eyeball.”
In less severe cases, you may be left with scarring on your cornea, Redfern says.
“If the scar is in the center of your vision, this may permanently affect your vision unless you receive a corneal transplant,” she says.
Redfern also warns us not to engage in any activities that could cause damage or contamination of the lenses, including swimming in a pool or lake with contact lenses or even bathing with contact lenses on.
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“The problem with contact lenses is that it traps bacteria between the lens and the cornea, and you can get an infection and then have all the complications we talked about,” she said. “In general, we do not approve of anything that exposes your eyes to non-sterile substances.”
This includes using tap water to rinse or store lenses.
When asked what advice she would give if someone forgot their contact lens solution on vacation, forcing them to choose between wearing their lenses to bed or using tap water to store them, Redfern declined to choose either option.
“Both are bad choices,” she said. “I would rather you [throw the contacts out] Just walking around in a bit of a blur on the weekend. “
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A thing about redfern Do What do you want us to do to keep our eyes healthy? Use eye protection more often.
“If I’m doing a house project and I’m hammering, sawing, anything that might fly into my eyes, I always wear goggles,” she said. “Make sure you wear goggles because I actually spent half the time going to the hospital and the trauma you see is just crazy.”
If you have a foreign object in your eye, do not try to remove it yourself. Instead, place a paper cup over your eye and see a medical professional immediately.
“Pull it out in an uncontrolled manner [could cause] The internal contents of the eye are then expelled,” Redfern said.
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She also busts some myths about other activities that can be harmful or beneficial to your eyes (spoiler alert—reading in the dark won’t damage your vision), why we get floaters (and when you should see a doctor about them), and more.
Listen to the full episode above or listen to podcasts anywhere.
Be sure to subscribe to Am I Doing Wrong? on any of your favorite podcast platforms so you never miss an episode of our all-new third season. And check out some of our favorites, including how to apologize or eliminate your credit card debt; how to find love online or overcome anxiety; tips for shopping online, taking care of your teeth, and pooping like a pro; tips for booking and staying at a hotel; how to deal with angry people; how to make friends as an adult; everything you need to know about protein; getting the best workout possible, and more.
For more information about Redfern, check out her Instagram page.
Have questions about something you’re doing wrong or need help? Please email AmIDoingItWrong@HuffPost.com and we may look into this topic in an upcoming episode.
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