June, July, and August Can Spell Trouble for Your Long-Term Vision
Summer is here, which means there will be many opportunities for summer fun and spending time outdoors. It also means a whole new series of possible hazards that could endanger your eye health. Summertime is a time to relax and be carefree, but don’t forget to protect your eyes and the eyes of those in your family.
Fortunately, it only requires a few simple adjustments to get your eyes ready for summer. Here are six easy ways to make sure your eyes and vision are summer-ready.
1. Wear Sunglasses
When it comes to wearing sunglasses, it’s important to remember: you don’t want just sunglasses, but sunglasses with 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. Just as ultraviolet rays can damage your skin, they can do plenty of damage to your eye, and even give your eye a “sunburn.”
It’s important to note that avoiding looking up at the sky is not an adequate way to protect your eyes. Ultraviolet rays can bounce off water or reflective sand, and still damage your eyes. In fact, this is a problem that skiers frequently encounter in winter when they do not wear eye protection, as the sun’s rays bounce off the snow into their eyes.
2. Wear Swim Goggles
One of the best parts of summer is diving into the pool for a dip. But getting chlorine in your eyes is not much fun and not very good for them. Instead of dealing with red, irritated eyes every time you get out of the pool, wear a pair of swim goggles and wash your eyes off with fresh water after you get out.
3. Keep Artificial Tears Handy
Arid summer conditions can dry out your eyes, especially on windy days. Because of this, it’s a good idea to keep some preservative-free artificial tears on hand to keep those eyes moist and healthy.
4. Stay Away From Fireworks
It can be a lot of fun to watch a fireworks display in summer, but don’t get too close! 14 percent of fireworks injuries are eye injuries, and they can cause retinal detachment, corneal abrasions, and even partial or permanent vision loss. Respect safety barriers and stay at least 500 feet away from fireworks.
5. Drink a Lot of Water
There are a lot of reasons to avoid dehydration during the summer. When it gets hot, you sweat, and without replacing that water, you put yourself at risk of heat exhaustion.
Getting dehydrated can affect your eyes, as well. You need water in your body to produce the tears that keep your eyes clean and moist. In the summer heat, that water can get depleted fast, so be sure to keep drinking throughout the day.
6. Wear Eye Protection During Outdoor Fun
Besides wearing goggles in the pool and sunglasses whenever you’re out and about, there are plenty of outdoor activities you may be involved in during summer months that call for eye protection. Outdoor sports are a great example, where a stray ball or an opponent’s elbow could end up in your eye. Even activities like woodworking or yardwork are often best performed with the proper eye protection.
The start of summer is also a great opportunity to get that annual eye check. For a thorough and professional eye exam in a comfortable atmosphere in the Portland, Oregon, area, contact Beaumont Vision and set up an appointment today.