Now that summer has officially arrived, you probably have many plans that involve being outdoors. As you enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, the eye doctors at Wiles Eye Center urge you not to overlook the health of your eyes. We recommend the following tips to help avoid an injury in the short term, and possibly some more serious diseases in the long term.
Wear Quality Sunglasses
Not all sunglasses are designed equally. While choosing a style you like is important so that you want to wear them, so is finding a pair that offers 100% UVA and UVB protection. Some sunglasses lack this protection and simply shield your eyes from brightness rather than ultraviolet damage. UV ray exposure on the eyes is known to increase your chances for developing cataracts and macular degeneration later. The best sunglasses wrap around the sides of your eyes to prevent UV rays from entering from peripheral angles.
Find a Good Hat
Another way to shade the sun from your eyes is by wearing a hat with a brim, such as a baseball cap or sunhat. The better you are at preventing rays from hitting your eyes, the better this should be for the health of your eyes, especially as you get older.
Use Goggles When Swimming
Many swimmers forego goggles, but they serve a purpose beyond allowing you to see underwear. When you are in a pool, the chlorine and other chemicals can cause a stinging sensation by removing the tear film off the surface of your eyes. Goggles are also valuable when you swim in rivers, lakes, and ponds because bodies of freshwater may have bacteria that can infect your eyes.
Beware of Eye Irritants
Sand has a tendency to get all over your body when you visit the beach, but it can be most annoying —and hazardous — when it gets in your eyes. If this does occur, do not rub your eyes. This may cause the sand to scratch your cornea and create an abrasion. Instead, blink a lot to try to get your tears to flush out the sand. If that does not work, use a faucet or saline solution to try to flush out the debris. After several unsuccessful attempts to get the sand out in this manner, you may want to visit a doctor.
Another summer eye hazard is sunscreen. While it is vital to wear sunscreen to protect your skin from ultraviolet rays, sunscreen applied just above your eyes can sometimes sweat into your eye. Again, the key is to not rub your eyes as that may lead to an injury. Blink repeatedly and flush your eye. If you wear oversized sunglasses, you may be able to prevent this problem altogether since that means you do not need to apply sunscreen so close to your eye to begin.
Seek Help During an Eye Emergency
The team at Wiles Eye Center wishes you a safe and happy summer, but our doctors are available to help if an eye emergency does arise. To make an appointment with Dr. Stephen Wiles, Dr. Rachel Tischinski, or Dr. Erin Gilliland, please call our Kansas City office at 816-455-2020 or St. Joseph office at 816-279-7015.
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