The Best Ways to Protect Your Eyes This Summer
Our eyes are one of the most sensitive areas of our bodies and the most complex to restore to full-functioning health once damaged. The biggest threats we encounter to our eyes come from the most commonplace sources and consequently we need to be all the more vigilant about protecting them. Whether you are hitting the beach, camping in the countryside or enjoying city living this summer, make sure you take the appropriate precautions to protect your eyes.
Stay vigilant throughout the year
We have seen the increasing problems posed to our eye health by the prevalence of computer use at work. However, even outside there is the perennial threat of UV damage to try to avert. The following tips should be followed throughout the year when you will be outside, but especially during the height of summer when the sun will be it at its strongest.
Wear sun cream
While of course sun cream shouldn’t be applied to your eyes directly, using sun protection on the rest of your face can help stop bright sunlight reflecting into your eyes and causing harm. This is especially true for the areas to the sides of your eyes and your cheeks. As this skin can often be much more sensitive than on other areas of the body, it’s advisable to use a cream developed specifically for sensitive skin with a gentler formula. Remember that the sun’s harmful rays cannot be seen, so even if it looks like a cloudy afternoon you can still be exposed to UV radiation.
Wear a hat
Whether you prefer a wide-brimmed hat, a boater, or a visor, it doesn’t matter so long as you use it when there is strong sun outside. The best way to protect your eyes is to ensure they are not exposed to direct contact with the sun. Staying in the shade is also advisable wherever possible.
Good sunglasses
Wearing high quality sunglasses is possibly the best and easiest way to protect your eyes from the sun. For complete coverage, look for sunglasses that protect against UVA and UVB rays. Depending on the kind of sun exposure you are experiencing you should also look at the different kinds of lenses available. Colored lenses allow for different amounts of light to reach you while reducing glare; for instance, gray lenses allow true colors to show while being highly effective at reducing the harmful effects of sun glare. Polarized lenses are specifically designed to cut out horizontal rays from reflective surfaces. This makes them the perfect choice for people who intend to spend time by water at the beach or boating, or for those who are hitting the slopes on a skiing holiday.
While there are a vast number of shops and sites out there selling all kinds of sunglasses, it is important to make sure you buy a pair of high enough quality to actually offer real protection. If you are shopping online then using a trusted site like Edel Optics stands you with a good chance of finding the right mix of quality and style at an affordable price. Alternatively, if you prefer shopping at a brick and mortar store, you can find plenty of reputable retailers in your local mall.
Stay hydrated
During the warm summer months we are more likely to suffer from some level of dehydration. One of the symptoms of this can be dry eyes as the tear ducts stop being able to produce sufficient moisture. Drinking plenty of water can help combat this and reduce the resultant redness and itchiness that persistent dry eyes can produce. Should you require further help with a bad case of dry eyes, applying eye drops can help alleviate symptoms.
Minimize contact
For many people, summer is synonymous with allergies. Unfortunately, this can result in long hours spent trying to abate the flow of streaming eyes or, worse, desperate rubbing of chronically dry and itchy eyes. In either scenario the primary concern should be maintaining a clean and sanitary environment to minimize the likelihood of further contamination or infection. This means regularly washing your hands, refraining from using contact lenses and only using a wet, cold compress to clean eyes.
