6 Ways to Protect Your Eyes this Summer

Your eyes are one of the most important and delicate parts of your body. Which is why they are more likely to get infected during the summer, leading to a host of problems some of which may become permanent. Therefore, it is important that you take good care of them. If you are having problems with your vision, you should visit an optometrist as soon as possible. Here are 6 ways to protect your eyes:

When was the last time you had an eye exam?

Each season has a different effect on our eyes. Excessive exposure to the sun is bad for your skin as it can cause skin cancer, premature aging of your skin as wellbeing detrimental your eyesight.

Spending a lot of time in the sun can affect your eyesight and lead to vision problems later on in the form of macular degeneration, cataracts and growths on the eyes. There may be cases of immediate damage whereby the cornea gets burned which can be quite painful.

Here are 6 tips to help you protect your eyes this summer:

6 Ways to Protect Your Eyes this Summer

1. Regularly Washing Your Hands and Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes

Washing your hands on a regular basis is the best way to protect yourself from the spread of infectious diseases. This simple practice is crucial for avoiding eye-related diseases such as conjunctivitis and glaucoma. Your eyes are more susceptible to infection after any type of eye surgery. Experts suggest that you wash your hands thoroughly before and after applying treatment to your eyes. Avoid rubbing your eyes.

2. Using UV Protective Glasses while Swimming

Swimming without any goggles is harmful for your eyes as it strips away the protective layer that keeps bacteria out and lubricates your eyes as well. This makes your eyes dry and irritated, opening them up to a lot of infection possibilities causing you to experience blurry vision.

Thus swimming after Lasik eye surgery demands that you do not submerge your head underwater to increase protection against infection and allow your reshaped corneal tissue to heal well and infection free from the laser operation. Keeping your eyes chlorine free for 14 days also reduces the chances of unnecessary dry eye and minimizes the risk of eye infections.

Lasik eye surgery gives a clear vision of the lanes to swimmers in the pool as they are not able to wear contacts which also improve your swimming ability. High cost of prescription goggles is also eliminated.

Chlorine is designed to protect you from exposure to germs but a 2008 study reveals that regular exposure to chlorine has a negative impact on your eyes and vision.

3. Your Diet Affects Your Vision

Your diet affects how well you see.

You are more likely to become dehydrated during the summer which can affect your eyes. Serious dehydration makes it harder for your body to produce tears leading to dry eye symptoms and other vision related problems. Drinking a lot of water improves your overall health and provides enough fluid for your eyes to function normally. Along with keeping yourself hydrated, eat a balanced diet high in fruits and vegetables but also low in saturated fats and sugar. Take in adequate amounts of zinc & selenium and some fatty acids from fish to keep your vision sharp. Adding certain nutrients to your daily diet through the foods you consume will you help preserve your vision.

4. Keep Your Children Safe and Protecting their Eyes

A child’s ocular lenses do not filter out UV lights as proficiently as an adult’s, meaning that children suffer eye injury much easier than adults.

Most of you may realize that you should have protected your eyes in your youth. Its never too late to start with your kids though. 80% of any person’s UVR exposure occurs before they turn eighteen. Apply sunscreen regularly, particularly on your child’s face. Accompany that with a hat and some comfortable sunglasses and your child is protected.

5. Better Vision due to Sleep

In today’s world, getting a good night’s sleep is easier said than done due to your hectic lifestyle. When you feel tired, your eyes become dry, leading to increased exposure to irritants and diseases. If your eyelids hurt when you blink, it could be a sign of underlying issues like blepharitis, dry eye syndrome, or astigmatism. Consider consulting an eye care professional for proper evaluation and treatment. Resting your eyes, using artificial tears, and getting enough sleep can help alleviate discomfort and promote better eye health.

6. Visit an Eye Care Professional to Preserve Your Vision

You should visit a trained professional who specializes in taking care of the health of your eyes. Have your eyes checked and tested on a regular basis to keep them in good health. Don’t hesitate to ask questions regarding your eyes and always have a vision test done.

If you don’t have any vision problems during your 20s and 30s-Visit an eye care specialist every 5-10 years.

Every 2-4 years between the age of 40 and 65.

Every 1 to 2 years after the age of 65.