How Can I Protect My Eyes From Heat?

Summertime means more fun in the sun, be it running, cycling, sunbathing, or beating the heat in the water. While all this is well and good, spending so much time outside in the summer heat can cause real damage to the eyes.

Read on as an optometrist Marysville, WA offers up some tips on how to protect your eyes from the summer heat.  

Summertime Risks 

Most everyone knows how dangerous the sun’s ultraviolet  (UV) rays can be. But did you know that prolonged exposure to the eyes can increase your risk of developing cataracts and retinal damage?

And that’s not all. Prolonged eye exposure to the sun can also cause:

• Allergies, both mild and severe
• Sties
• Bacterial conjunctivitis
• Viral conjunctivitis
• Ocular burns
• Macular degeneration

The combination of heat, pollutants, and irritants can wreak havoc on your eye health, in general. The good news is there are ways to guard against these risks and protect your eyes in the summer heat. 

Ways to Protect Your Eyes in the Summer

Shield Your Eyes

Shielding your eyes means wearing sunglasses at all times, even when it’s cloudy. UV rays pose the greatest risk to your eyes, even when it’s cloudy outside. Be sure to choose sunglasses that have 100% protection against UVA  rays, and also UVB rays. 

Keep Your Hands Clean

Make it a habit to wash your hands regularly to avoid getting eye-related contagious conditions, like conjunctivitis. You never know when a surface you touch may have germs on it. And if you rub your eyes after touching one of these surfaces, your eyes become exposed. Washing your hands regularly is especially important if you wear contact lenses. 

Stay Hydrated

Eyes have a tendency to become dry, irritated and watery in hot temperatures with blooming plants. Drinking lots of water and using eye drops to keep your eyes lubricated will help guard against drying eyes. The regular use of eye drops also helps to flush out pollen particles and other contaminants. For contact lens wearers, this also means washing your contacts regularly and replacing them on schedule.

Wear Goggles When Swimming

While the chlorine in a swimming pool helps protect against bacteria in the water, it can also irritate your eyes by washing away their natural protective tear film. Wearing goggles protects against this. The same goes for saltwater and other contaminants in the ocean. And by all means, don’t wear your contact lenses in the pool, as they can trap bacteria in your eyes and cause serious infections.

If you have more questions or wish to schedule an eye wellness exam, please feel free to call us, your local optometrist Marysville, MD, anytime!