Eye injuries and diseases may occur at any time of the year, regardless of the season. However, the summer season, with its strong light, beaches, and opportunities for outdoor recreation, may provide unique hazards and obstacles. It is important to get familiar with certain eye-protection techniques this summer.
Fortunately, a small amount of preventive care may go a long way toward reducing the risk of serious illness. Ensure that you read the following guidelines to safeguard your eyes this summer if you want to keep yourself safe from both short-term eye discomfort and possibly long-term repercussions.
Purchase a quality pair of sunglasses
The most apparent benefit of decent sunglasses for men is that they significantly minimize the amount of sunshine glare, resulting in much less squinting and reduced eye strain. In addition to making your eyes more comfortable, Sunglasses may help avoid headaches, migraines, blurred vision, and other side effects of overstressed eyes, among other things.
There’s also the issue of UV ray protection to consider. Despite the fact that there is currently no scientifically confirmed link between sunlight exposure and conditions such as macular degeneration or cataracts, we would nonetheless advise caution. Even if it is not associated with such disorders, UV-A and UV-B exposure have the potential to cause harm to the eyes and surrounding skin.
In truth, photokeratitis (sunburn of the eyes) is a medical illness when the eyes get overexposed to the sun. Even while it is typically temporary, in contrast, it may be quite painful.
When choosing sunglasses, keep these factors in mind
It is not just about the color of the tint. Look for anti-glare (polarized) sunglasses that block all or a significant portion of UV-A and UV-B radiation. When purchasing sunglasses, look for the ANSI classification on the label. “General purpose” is ideal for most situations, while “special purpose” may be preferable if you’re in a highly bright or reflective environment. “Cosmetic” shades are less protective and may be better suited for inside surroundings than outdoor ones.
The greater the size, the better the protection to eyes. Big sunglasses that wrap around the face do not allow light to enter from above, below, or the sides of the frames and provide far more comprehensive protection than smaller sunglasses.
A few suggestions for keeping your eyes safe this summer
Even though the sun rays are most harmful on a bright, sunny day from around 10 AM to 2 PM, UV exposure continues throughout the day. While cloud covering might be beneficial, it’s vital to remember that it isn’t always as protective as you believe. A significant amount of UV rays may still get through.
Therefore, even if the day is overcast by clouds and if you are outdoors for a lengthy amount of time, it is recommended that you wear your sunglasses. We also recommend you to do the following:
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Put on a cap. A sun hat with a 3-inch broad brim is the most effective way since it offers a substantial amount of extra protection.
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Look for a shady spot. In addition to wearing a hat, keeping out of the sun’s direct path provides an additional layer of defense.
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Swimmers should always use goggles
If you are at the beach or swimming in your backyard pool, unprotected eyes may be inflamed or injured in various ways by water exposure. When it comes to pool swimming, chlorine is the main issue. Chlorine is a chemical added to the water to help eliminate bacteria.
While this is undoubtedly a significant advantage, chlorine may also irritate the eyes, causing itching and even bloodshot eyes in some instances. More recently, one research published in the medical journal suggested that there may be a relationship between chlorinated water exposure and damage to the cornea’s epithelial cells.
Waterborne illnesses and sand provide a concern to swimmers in natural bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, and ponds. Regardless of the situation, a pair of waterproof safety glasses is your best option for eye protection.
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Be sure to remove your contacts before entering the water
Most germs and other microorganisms that would normally not affect you may either cling to the surface of your contact lenses or get trapped between the contacts and your eyes, which is a severe health hazard. This significantly raises your chances of contracting a potentially severe infection, such as one that might result in major corneal damage or blindness.
Obtaining a set of waterproof prescription goggles will be our best advice if your eyesight is so bad that you are unable to safely swim without the use of corrective eyeglasses. That will provide you with all of the advantages while eliminating all hazards.
In an emergency, daily disposable contacts paired with waterproof swim goggles would be the next safest choice to consider. Following a swim, the contacts should be disposed of as soon as possible.
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Protective eyewear should be worn at all times
During the summer months, you’re most likely spending a significant amount of time working on chores around the home and yard. This covers tasks such as mowing the grass, working on the automobile, cleaning gutters, using power tools, gardening, and other similar activities.
Wearing protective UV protection eyewear is always highly suggested if your activities place you at increased risk of exposure to flying debris or potentially dangerous substances. However, although you may believe the likelihood of an incident is low and, in most cases, it is, the fact is that even a single misfortune or unanticipated accident may cause permanent damage to your eyes.
Look for the ANSI standard information and then you should buy that product. If you notice the letters ANSI Z87.1 anyplace on the lens or frame of the glasses, goggles, or face shield you’ve selected, it implies that the protective eyewear fulfills the ANSI minimum safety standard for eye protection.
It is also a good idea to wear protective eyewear if you are participating in a sport that includes flying projectiles of any type (baseball, tennis, racquetball, paintball, even badminton or golf). It may seem absurd at first, but more than 40,000 individuals visit emergency rooms in the United States each year because of sports-related eye injuries, according to statistics.
ATSM F803 is the standard you should seek in sports eye guards or goggles, which shows that they are designed to withstand the overall impacts in sports. When it comes to protective eyewear, polycarbonate and Trivex are excellent choices since they are both extremely impact and shatter-resistant when compared to standard plastic or glass lenses, respectively.
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Wash Your Hands Regularly and Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes
Hand-washing and avoiding eye rubbing have already received a great deal of attention this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Nonetheless, this is great advice for various other reasons as well.
Because of their high sensitivity to infections of all types, including those that cause illnesses such as conjunctivitis, the eyes are particularly vulnerable (pink eye). Additionally, scratching your eyes excessively may aggravate the symptoms of allergies and potentially cause permanent damage to the eyes if done too hard or too often, or if done after getting sand or other foreign particles in your eyes.
It may be worthwhile to experiment with saline eye drops to see if they may alleviate the impulse to touch your eyes constantly and irresistibly. If you’re experiencing chronic dryness or irritation in your eyes, please contact us right away since you may be suffering from a more severe acute condition that needs treatment.
Conclusion
Please keep in mind that you only have one pair of eyes after reading these recommendations for protecting your eyes this summer. The prospect of losing your eyesight for the rest of your life is not only depressing but also tragic. If the situation might go in an adverse manner, then you should get treatment from an eye doctor sooner.
We want you to go out and enjoy yourself this summer, but we also want you to remember to put eye protection first and foremost. Make no mistake about seeking medical attention as soon as you begin to experience eye discomfort, strain, or any other possible indicators of urgent eye disease.