Three eye-care mistakes you make every day

Proper eye care is more than washing your hands before touching your eyes or wearing protective googles. Here are three things you're doing wrong every day...

See also: Are you at risk of digital eye strain?
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#1. Keeping your make-up too long
Mascara and liquid and creamy eye shadows can be a breeding ground for germs. Eye make-up doesn't usually come with an expiration date, but maybe it should! If you haven't updated your cosmetics bag for three months or more, consider checking through it and throwing away old products.

Ditch them immediately if you experience eye redness, swelling or other signs of infection. And remember to never share your eye make-up.

#2. Improper contact lens care
If you have daily disposable contacts, always use a fresh pair every day. It's tempting to re-use them to cut costs, but that increases your risk of infection. Also, don't snooze with them in unless your eye doctor says it's safe. Many recommend you always take them out.

Sleeping with them in makes you four times more likely to get eye-infections, including a serious type that can lead to blindness.

#3. Staying glued to your smart phone
More than 60% of people now spend up to five hours a day on a digital device. Chances are you use yours for even longer. After just two hours this can strain your eyes. You blink a lot less and you make fewer tears. The result is dry itchy eyes that hurt or burn.

Experts recommend the 20:20:20 rule: look 20 feet away, every 20 minutes for at least 20 seconds. If you're an office worker, try setting an alarm on your computer or phone to remind you.

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