Your eyes are very important, and also extremely delicate, so they require special care. You might wonder, though, is there a season during which the eyes need extra protection. As you may have guessed, summer can be hard on your eyes, and it’s crucial that you take good care of them during the summer months.
- Be aware of the risk of excessive UV exposure. There’s plenty of information floating around about how the sun can damage skin, but do you know what it does to eyes? UV rays can have effects on your eyes in the short and long term, causing conditions like photokeratitis, or “sunburn of the eye”, or even cataracts and macular degeneration.
- Consistently wearing sunglasses is the best way to protect your eyes from the sun. For maximum protection, choose lenses that block 99% of UV-A and UV-B protection, and also screen out 75-90% of visible light. Teach your kids to wear sunglasses early on; like young skin, young eyes are the most susceptible to sun damage.
- Hats, visors, and shade are also helpful tools for keeping your eyes safe from the sun. Wide brimmed or long billed hats protect your skin as well as your eyes, car visors protect you while you are in a car, and sitting in the shade is the best option when you’re hanging out on a sunny day.
- Remember, the sun is not the only summer danger. Wear goggles whenever you swim, to protect your eyes from the chemicals and contaminants that can harm them. Wash your hands frequently, all year round, and try not to rub or touch your eyes. Dirty hands can introduce bacteria to the eye that can cause conditions like conjunctivitis.
At our clinic, we embrace an integrated approach to wellness, creating personalized treatment plans to address each patient’s individual needs. Whether you’re concerned about eye health, are dealing with chronic pain, or just want to know more about staying healthy and living well, we want to be there for you. For more information about how we can help you live a healthier life, call today for your free consultation.
