The temperatures are heating up and summer is almost underway. It’s a perfect time for a quick reminder on how to protect your precious eyes from harmful UV rays. You don’t have to sacrifice fun in the sun by any means, but taking simple precautions can help keep your eyes nice and healthy.
Just as UV damage to skin can result in cancer, if you eyes suffer damage from UV rays, it can be extremely harmful and is linked to cataracts, as well as macula degeneration, photokeratitis, ptergyia and pinguecula. For those who are unaware of the details of each of those, I encourage you to learn more about it. The short explanation is: it’s not a good thing.
It’s not all gloom and doom though. We’ve come up with some simple eye care tips that help protect your eyes while you are out enjoying the summer weather:
1. Avoid the midday sun. The sun is at its most dangerous levels during the times of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., so if possible, avoid spending too much time outside during this time. However, if you are out during this time, be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen, a hat, and of course quality UV-protected sunglasses. That brings us to the second tip…
2. Wear UV protection sunglasses. Not all sunglasses are created equal. Make sure your sunglasses offer 100% UV protection. This is of utmost importance, so don’t shortchange your eyes. It’s worth it to spend a little more or to spend more time searching for the right sunglasses.
3. Sunglasses aren’t just for sunny days. Your sunglasses are for more than just a source of shade for your eyes. They protect against harmful UV rays. It’s widely known you can still get a sun burn when it’s cloudy. This same logic reinforces why you need to wear UV-protected sunglasses on cloudy days.
4. Have a spare. You don’t get advanced notice when your sunglasses decide to break or get lost, so it’s always a good idea to have a spare set of sunglasses with UV protection nearby. At the very least, if the person you are with forgets their own, you’ll be there to help them out. After all, what are friends for?
5. Drink plenty of water. What isn’t water good for? It’s important to drink plenty of good fluids, particularly on hot summer days. Not only is it necessary to prevent dehydration, it also helps keep your eyes feeling fresh, rather than dried-out and feeling tired.
So get out there and enjoy summer-just please take the added precautions to keep your eyes safe.
If you currently wear glasses, there are definitely options for UV protected eye wear you can look into. Contact lenses are another excellent option and opens up a lot more options to purchase non-prescription UV-protected sunglasses. And in the summer months, why not have a little fun and try out some blue, brown, or green contact lenses for a fresh, new look? Enjoy the summer, have fun, and protect those eyes!