Whilst sun exposure is an excellent source of vitamin D, not taking the necessary protective measures from the sun can have damaging effects on the eyes, especially during summer when the rays have their fangs out. In fact, did you know that spending a lot of time under direct sunlight and heat can accelerate the ageing process of the eyes and lead to conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration? No? Now you know. Hence the need to protect your eyes just like every other part of your body.
With temperatures reaching highs of 48°C on this side of the Sahara, our eyes are at risk of developing corneal burns, also known as photokeratitis. Therefore, it is extremely important to protect your eyes while enjoying your hot girl summer activities. And to make sure you have the right information on how to do this, we had Dr Avi Gurbaxani, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital share with us some effective tips on how to protect your eyes in summer.
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6 Tips on How to Protect Your Eyes from the Sun
1. Wear sunglasses with full UV protection
Increased exposure to UV radiation can damage the macula, a central part of the retina at the back of the eye, which gives us the ability to have the perfect, coloured vision. UV radiation may also harm the front part of the eye (cornea and lens) leading to cataracts (clouding of the lens), macular degeneration, pterygium (a benign growth on the white of the eye) and corneal sunburn, which is painful and might cause temporary vision loss. Thus, medical-grade tinted glasses that can block up to 100% of the sun’s UV radiations are essential for protecting your eyes in summer.
2. Lubricate your eyes
High temperatures and dry winds outdoors can lead to increased dry eye. Air conditioning use increases during summer which also leads to the dry eye symptoms worsening. The best and most immediate way to address eye dryness is by using artificial tears to protect your eyes and keep them moist and refreshed.
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3. Nourish your body with antioxidants
Constant exposure to the sun’s rays can produce free radicals, roaming atoms in the body that can oxidize and damage the retina. Hence, consuming a diet that is rich in antioxidants will help cancel out the effects of free radicals. Antioxidants such as Lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamins C can be found in oranges, berries and leafy vegetables and can be easily integrated into your diet.
4. Stay hydrated
In general, drinking water is extremely important to maintain healthy functioning organs. Considering that the summer heat can make us lose more water through sweat, we need to drink more water to compensate for this loss. Also, if you drink diuretics such as coffee, consider drinking at least 2 litres of water per day. Dehydration is a leading cause of dry eye and irritation, so it is imperative to maintain balanced hydration levels during the summer months.
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5. Always wear swimming goggles
Summer is synonymous with swimming. If you enjoy swimming, consider investing in goggles to protect your eyes. Pools are often disinfected with harsh sanitizers such as chlorine. Thus, using goggles can protect your eyes from coming in contact with potent sanitizers and reduce the likelihood of contracting an eye infection such as conjunctivitis, which leaves the surface of the eye red and dry.
6. Avoid swimming with contact lenses
Another important precaution to take is to remove your contact lenses before swimming. In fact, swimming with contact lenses can have sight-threatening effects such as ulcers and infections. Additionally, pool or beach water is home to many microbes such as Acanthamoeba, which can result in infections in the eye leading to serious complications.
Now you know you need more than sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun, not only in summer but throughout the year, especially here where the sun never grows cold.
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2 Comments
I feel like also wearing blue light glasses can help too! Thanks for sharing!
Totally agree! Thanks for stopping by …