How To Protect Your Eyes During The Summer?
Protecting your eyes during the summer is absolutely necessary. UV radiation has a powerful effect on these organs. If you are not careful, the situation could lead to a serious eye condition.
It is very important to protect the eyes during the summer, as they are susceptible to attack due to environmental conditions. The sun is a source of heat, light and ultraviolet rays; it is the latter that represent a danger to visual health.
According to specialists from the American Academy of Ophthalmology , this is one of the most dangerous times of the year when it comes to eye health. Without adequate protection, the eyes can suffer serious problems, such as cataracts. What preventive measures to take? Discover them!
Routines to protect the eyes during the summer
Protecting your eyes during the summer is actually very simple. It’s just about internalizing some simple practices and turning them into routine habits. The first of them is to wear dark or semi-dark glasses , with solar filter, every time you go out.
The best thing to do is for the optometrist to recommend the sunglasses that each person should use, according to their particularities. Under normal conditions, filter 3 goggles are worn and this number should be circled on the stem of the goggle.
Also, and for obvious reasons, the glasses must have a UV400 filter. These allow to protect the eyes during the summer in a percentage that reaches 99 to 100%.
On the other hand, polarized glasses are the most suitable for those who spend a lot of time outdoors. They should always be purchased in a reputable store, preferably in an optician.
It should be noted that the optometrist will be in charge of recommending the appropriate sunglasses for people with some type of visual deficit. As a general rule, lenses with lighter colors are indicated for nearsighted people and darker ones for farsighted people, for example.
Proper habits
It is never good to look directly at the sun. This should not be done, even with dark glasses on. It is also not advisable to remain exposed to the sun for very long periods of time, much less to do so in the central hours of the day, when the radiation reaches the earth with greater force.
If you wear contact lenses or lenses, you should wear sunglasses to protect your eyes during the summer. Now, there are lenses with a UV filter that are also very advisable, but you should prioritize protection with glasses.
Both to take care of the skin and to protect the eyes during the summer, it is best to look for the shade. For the same reason, wearing a hat or something that covers the head is very convenient.
A risk factor that increases in the summer is air conditioners, which operate at higher levels than at other times. These devices can cause dry eyes, which can be prevented by using artificial tears that do not contain preservatives. Similarly, an eye drop can be used, if the eye doctor has indicated it.
Other care to protect the eyes during the summer
In the summer it is very common to go to swimming pools to cool off. However, in its waters there are usually large amounts of chlorine. This is a powerful disinfectant, which can cause eye irritation and even allergies.
In addition, sometimes, despite the use of chlorine, inside there is a proliferation of bacteria that cause conjunctivitis, such as Acanthamoeba . How to take care of yourself then? The ideal is not to have direct contact with the water, which can be achieved by wearing goggles, that is, swimming goggles.
It is not recommended to share towels in the bathrooms or on the banks of the sinks. Also, as much as possible, you should avoid touching your eyes, even if they feel itchy or burning. You should also not apply makeup if you plan to enter the pool.
The lens of babies and children filters ultraviolet rays less effectively than that of adults. Therefore, to protect your eyes in summer, it is very important to pay special attention to them. In general, they should always wear sunglasses and hats.
Conditions derived from ultraviolet rays
Ultraviolet rays cause effects of different intensity in the eyes. Initially, they cause redness, irritation and blurred vision. If the proper measures are not taken, over time the consequences are much worse.
Specialists associate some types of cataracts with prolonged exposure to the sun. This disease progressively diminishes vision and can actually lead to blindness. Another possible effect is the formation of a pterygium, which is a kind of fleshy growth that grows on the surface of the cornea.
There is also the risk of developing photokeratitis or degenerative changes in the cornea that undoubtedly affect vision significantly.
