But while glasses can help, there's another category of eye problems that post 50s may unwittingly be making worse: eye disease.
"The most common eye diseases all increase with age starting at about age 40 to 50," Bishop told The Huffington Post. "The prevalance of glaucoma, cataracts and dry eye begin to present themselves over the age of 40."
Here are surprising ways you're hurting your vision:
We all know the damage smoking can do to your body, but many may not realize the effect the bad habit has on your eyes, Bishop said. It can increase your risk of suffering from cataracts and retinal diseases that lead to vision loss. It also makes existing eye problems age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and optic nerve damage worse.
"Smoking seems to affect circulation. As we get older, life forces tend to challenge our circulatory systems add smoking to it" and it's even worse, she said. That's because having healthy circulation of blood to your eyes means your eyes are getting the oxygen and nutrients they need to prevent eye diseases and eye stress, according to LiveStrong.com.
2. UV Exposure:
"We lather our kids in sunscreen and we know about skin cancer," said Bishop, "[but] UV light damages eye structures" as well.
Similar to how it causes damage to the skin, UV light damages your DNA which leads to cellular damage, Bishop explained. "The body has repair mechanisms, but over time these damages accumulate and the body can't compensate after a certain point. You see damage to the surface structures and the deep structures like your retina."
3. Accidental, Everyday Trauma:
The laundry list of things she has had to pull out of patients' eyes is pretty squirm inducing. But these aren't from major accidents they're from everyday chores.
"If you're out mowning the lawn, or you're working on the car, or you're grinding on a metal drill, or 100 [other] recreational or household chores, you're exposing your eyes to a risk of trauma," Bishop said.
4. Not Taking Proper Care Of Your Overall Health:
Things like managing your cholesterol and blood pressure can improve your eyesight, Bishop told The Huffington Post.
"These things all contribute to eye health. If the person has high blood pressure, they're at a higher risk for having damage to the eye that can lead to vision loss. There are certain eye diseases associated with diabetes and high blood pressure." In the case of diabetic retinopathy, damage to the eye's blood vessels as a result of diabetes, the National Eye Institute recommends stopping the disease's progression by controlling "their levels of blood sugar, blood pressure and blood cholesterol."
Though the effect technology has on our eyes has been well-documented, it's worth noting again, Bishop said.
"A few things happen when you stare at a computer," Bishop said. "When people do concentrated near work they tend to not blink as often as when they're doing more active activities. Your eye is focused on one spot for a long time, and your eye muscle may fatigue and feel a sense of strain.
"Computer work [also] has you sitting up a little bit," she continued. "When you're looking up, your eyes are wider and there's more evaporation of eye fluid, encouraging dry eye and eye strain."
Impaired vision is not a normal part of aging, Bishop stressed. Here's how you can take control of your eye health.
6. Staring at your smartphone:
Straining to read the tiny text on your cell phone may be the reason your eyes hurt day after day especially if you're doing this for hours on end. It could also lead to blurred vision, dry eyes, dizziness, and nausea.
Put down your phone every 20 minutes to give your eyes a break. Or, even better, make the font on your phone bigger so your eyes aren't working over time to read that tiny Facebook post.
7. Watching TV at night:
In fact, looking at any type of screen right before bed in the dark, including your cell phone, e-reader, television, and computer, is bad for you. The levels of light are changing rapidly, so your eyes have to work hard to process the changes, which can lead to eyestrain, pain, headaches, dry eye, and redness. Even worse? It can mess with your sleep schedule, too.
On the flip side, reading in a dim light isn't advised either. Although there isn't a lot of evidence that says it's bad for your eyesight, it does strain your eyes, which can make them more tired and red, or lead to pain and discomfort. So turn on that lamp on the nightstand if you're trying to finish off a few chapters before bedtime.
8. Sleeping in contacts:
We get it it's late and you're tired. But that's no excuse for not taking your contacts out. Not only does it increase your risk of an infection, but it could lead to permanent damage. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one million Americans visit the eye doctor each year with infections related to wearing contacts. Bonus tip: When you take them out at night, make sure your hands are clean and you use extra contact solution.
9. Rubbing your eyes:
As tempting as it may be, it's a big no-no. Rubbing them too hard can break the blood vessels under the eyelids. So to soothe irritated eyes, try a cold compress instead.
10. Overusing eyedrops:
While they temporarily alleviate dry eyes, using them too often could actually irritate your eyes over time. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) warns that nonprescription eyedrops don't actually improve the health of your eye, they just make your eyes appear less red. They recommend using eyedrops for only a short period of time.
If you're using prescription eyedrops, be sure to follow your doctor's instructions, and stop using them immediately if they cause irritation, an eye rash, or any other negative side effect.
11. Not eating a well-balanced diet:
Yes diet and nutrition matter. In fact, some fruits and vegetables are crucial for optimum eye health, especially ones with vitamins C and E, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. The AAO suggests adding citrus fruits, vegetables oils, nuts, whole grains, leafy greens, and fish to your meals as much as possible.
Even more important? Water. Staying hydrated is key for tear production and keeping eyes well-lubricated. Also, make sure to skip foods high in sodium, which can dehydrate your body.
12. Not using safety goggles:
According to the AAO, almost 45% of eye injuries happen at home. And the most common risks are being exposed to chemicals in cleaning products, hot grease and oil splatters during cooking, home improvement projects involving nails, mowing the lawn, and using hot styling tools near the eyes. So yes, you may look silly wearing those safety goggles, but it's a really good idea when working on a home improvement project.
13. Misusing eye makeup:
Anything you put near your eye is a potential risk. And yes, this includes your mascara, eyeliner, eye shadow, and eye creams. So make sure to apply makeup far away from your lash line so you don't block the oil glands of your lids a buildup here can cause infections. Also, throw away your eye makeup after three months. Bacteria loves to grow in dark, damp places, so your mascara could be a breeding ground to some nasty infections.
14. Not getting enough sleep:
Sleep deprivation can lead to a number of problems, including weight gain, depression, and decreased immune function. Moreover, a lack of sleep is also hurting your eyes (some symptoms include twitching, dry eyes, blurry vision, and pain). Be sure to get a minimum of seven hours a night and remember, put down that smartphone before bed.
15. Not wearing your glasses:
Excessive squinting can lead to eyestrain, which can then lead to pain. Thankfully there's a simple solution: Wear your glasses!
And when you're outside, use those stylish sunnies hiding at the bottom of your bag. They help block harmful UV rays that could hurt your eyes over time. Have photophobia or light sensitivity? Sunglasses can help minimize the effects of bright lights, including headaches, blurred vision, or red eye.
Not only can your doctor detect serious eye issues that don't have symptoms, but they can also see signs of other illnesses (such as diabetes and high blood pressure) just by peaking into your eye.
On top of that, your vision probably isn't as good as you think. If you're squinting for every day tasks you could be putting yourself and others at risk. For one thing, updating your prescription can help lower the number of preventable car accidents each year.
17.Too Much Chlorine:
Your post-pool regimen is vital when it comes to your skin. Even after a shower, chlorine can cling to skin and react with topical medications, cleansers, and even lotions. To effectively remove chlorine, always use an extra sudsy soap after you take a dip.
18.Sleeping With Your Makeup On:
Falling asleep with your makeup on can lead to bacterial infections and clogged pores, which can cause acne. And, the residue that stays on your pillow can even make you sick. Keep makeup removing wipes next to your bed so you’ll be reminded nightly to remove your harmful makeup.
19.Drinking Coffee:
Caffeine is a major culprit when it comes to dry skin and the magnification of wrinkles. Quench skin by drinking lots of water. Add fruit slices like orange or lemon to enhance the flavor.
20.Popping Pimples:
Picking at the skin on your face will only push dirt and bacteria deeper into pores, resulting in more breakouts.
21.Skipping Meals:
Skipping meals can cause skin to age faster and dry out more quickly. Always try to include vitamins C (oranges), B3 (peanuts), E (avocados), and A (sweet potatoes) in your meals to build up your skin’s health.
22.Long, Hot Showers:
While the occasional steamy shower is great, it actually strips away the outermost layer of the epidermis, which can cause scaly and dry skin. When your skin starts to turn red and itch in the shower, you know its time to step out.
23.Testing Too Many Products:
To avoid a skin nightmare, always test new products cosmetics, lotions, and cleansers on a small patch of skin. Choose somewhere on your arm to avoid an unexpected allergic reaction on your face.
24.Not Drinking Enough Water:
Hydrating yourself daily will not only help to fight off aging, but also give your skin a healthy glow. Skip the water and you’ll be stuck with rough and 'shrunken' skin.
25.Talking on the Phone:
Hours spent talking on your cell phone can lead to breakouts and rashes along your jawline and cheek. Make sure to keep antibacterial wipes with you to keep your phone (and skin!) clean.
26.Getting Hair Products on Your Face:
Next time you apply hairspray, use a clean towel to cover your face to protect your skin. Also, make sure to always use a sweatband when you hit the gym so no hair products drip onto your face when you begin to sweat.
27.Wearing Dirty Sunglasses:
Like your regular lenses, don't forget to wipe your sunglasses clean. Bacteria that builds up on your glasses can get into the pores around the bridge of your nose, causing breakouts and irritation.
28.Not Enough Sleep:
Getting the recommended eight hours of sleep a night will not only help you look refreshed, but it will also replenish and rehydrate skin. Not getting a good night’s sleep can result in dull skin and clogged pores.
Excess sodium in your diet can suck the moisture out of skin, leaving it dry and dull. To avoid this, cut back on salty treats and invest in a hydrating facial moisturizer.
30.Squinting Your Eyes:
Skip your annual optometrist appointment? It's time to pencil it into your calendar. Wearing outdated contacts and glasses will cause you to squint more, and in turn, lead to fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes. To avoid unnecessary aging, make sure you visit your eye doctor at least once a year.
31.Waxing Too Often:
Resist running to your waxer at the first sight of new hairs. Too much waxing can result in raw skin and increased bumps. Give your skin at least three weeks to regenerate, especially in sensitive areas.
32.Chemicals in the Water:
The heat from prolonged showers can lead to dry skin, but so can your shower head. With all the purifying agents used to filter public water, chemical build up on skin over time is very common. Invest in a shower head filter to fight off dry skin caused by chlorine and other elements.
33.Not Remembering Your Lips:
Three-to-five cellular layers of skin rest upon your lips, so it's important that your beauty regime includes them too. Frequently having dry, chapped lips causes them to age faster. Look for lipsticks and lip balm that contain petrolatum, dimethicone, and glycerine to help keep your smackers hydrated.
34.Dirty Pillowcases:
At night your skin gets a chance to rest and shed its dead cells. Those dead cells can build up over time on your pillowcase, leaving behind bacteria and toxins. In order to keep skin healthy, make sure you change your pillowcase at least once every two weeks.
35.Exfoliating Too Often:
Over-exfoliating your skin can strip it of its necessary oils it needs to maintain your natural glow. Exfoliate your skin just once a week to keep it healthy.
36.Frowning:
Constant movements of the muscles from facial expressions can lead to frown lines. To give your skin a rest, try avoiding scrunching and pouting of the face, which will cause permanent wrinkles and lines in your skin.
37.Stress:
Consider stress the heavyweight knockout when it comes to your skin. Not only can it cause blemishes, dullness, and rashes, but stress lines from facial movements will also ingrain in your skin over time. To avoid stress, take time to do something you enjoy like yoga, reading, or cooking.
38.Not Enough Exercise:
Exercise helps increase blood flow and gives your face a healthy glow. In addition, it also cleans the body of toxins, which are expelled during perspiration, and cleanses dead skins cells allowing new ones to grow. Without regular exercise you may see an increase in age spots.
39.The Plastic on Your Dry-Cleaned Clothes:
To avoid skin irritation, take the plastic off your dry cleaning as soon as you get home, allowing the clothes to breath. The longer the plastic stays on your threads, the more skin-harming chemicals that are absorbed.
A few days a week skip makeup altogether and allow your skin to breathe. This will help prevent clogged pores and breakouts while avoiding premature aging.
41.Tweezing Too Often:
Over-tweezing brows can cause major damage to your skin. To begin, always wash tweezers with antibacterial soap. Then, prep skin by placing a hot towel over the area to open up your pores. After your tweezing session, soothe your skin with aloe lotion to avoid ingrown hairs.
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