An Eye Doctor Explains the Everyday Habits Hurting Your Eyes

Ophthalmologist and eye surgeon Dr. Dagny Zhu breaks down what screen time is really doing to your eyes — from digital eye strain and dry eyes to myopia, headaches, blue light and changes in vision after 40.In this episode of Live + Well, Dr. Zhu joins Melissa Magsaysay to separate eye health fact from hype. She explains the 20-20-20 rule for screen breaks, why she tells patients not to rub their eyes, whether blue light glasses and eye supplements actually work, and what you should know about reading glasses, LASIK and popular eye drops.She also weighs in on viral eye color change surgery and explains why some redness-relief drops can actually make red eyes worse. And one of the biggest misconceptions about eye health? Having 20/20 vision doesn't necessarily mean your eyes are healthy. Dr. Zhu explains how routine eye exams can sometimes uncover serious conditions before you notice changes in your vision.You’ll learn:* How screen time affects your eyes* Why myopia is becoming more common* The 20-20-20 rule for digital eye strain* Whether blue light glasses actually work* Why you shouldn't aggressively rub your eyes* What happens to your vision after 40* The risks of eye color change surgery* Why some eye-whitening drops can cause rebound redness* What your eyes can reveal about your overall healthBy the end of this conversation, you may think differently about what it means to have healthy eyes.In this episode:
00:00 Why Myopia Is Increasing Around the World
03:03 Why Eye Health Has Been Overlooked
05:09 Can You Prevent Nearsightedness in Kids?
07:51 How Screen Time Affects Your Eyes
09:19 What Red, Dry Eyes May Be Telling You
10:07 Why You Should Never Rub Your Eyes
11:59 Are Eye Massages Safe?
15:05 Digital Eye Strain and the 20-20-20 Rule
16:35 When Do You Actually Need Reading Glasses?
17:19 Eye Drops That Can Help You Read Up Close
19:28 Why Eye Strain Can Trigger Headaches
21:27 How Far Away Should Your Screen Be?
24:44 Screen Time Before Bed and Blue Light
25:41 Do Blue Light Glasses Actually Work?
27:58 Do Eye Supplements Work?
29:14 The Risks of Eye Color Change Surgery
34:38 Are Eye-Whitening Drops Safe?
35:37 Why Eye Doctors Hate Visine
36:23 Eye Drops That Temporarily Lift Your Eyelids
37:53 Why 20/20 Vision Doesn't Mean Your Eyes Are Healthy
38:58 Why You Still Need an Annual Eye Exam
41:03 What Your Eyes Can Reveal About Your Overall Health
42:35 Blurry Vision, Headaches and When to Get Checked
43:45 Why Sunglasses Are “SPF for Your Eyes”#EyeHealth #ScreenTime #EyeStrain #Myopia #BlueLight