Summer is the best time for the great outdoors, but that can mean new dangers for yours eyes. Simple steps they can help reduce the risk, said ophthalmologist Dr. Masih Ahmed, assistant professor of ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Protect your eyes from the sun
This has a simple solution: sunglasses. According to Ahmed, strong sunlight can lead to the formation of the so-called pterygium inside the eye, and UV (ultraviolet) light has been linked to an increased risk of early cataracts, worsening macular degeneration and even eyelid cancer.
In a Baylor press release, it said that “when choosing the right sunglasses, make sure the lenses block UV rays 100%, ideally wrapping around the face to prevent light from escaping from the sides. UV blocking sun lenses with full coverage over the eyes are key.”
Polarized lenses can also help, as they help reduce glare, especially useful when you’re in the water.
The American Cancer Society currently recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, reapplied at least every two hours. Wearing hats and long-sleeved shirts can also help, and seek shade if possible.
“In hot temperatures where sweating is inevitable, find a sunscreen that doesn’t run when you sweat to prevent it from getting into your eyeball,” according to Ahmed. “If sunscreen gets on you, rinse it with sterile saline or fresh water to flush it out. The douching process may be uncomfortable, but it will help wash off the sunscreen.”
A dip in the pool, lake or ocean is welcome on a hot day. But dangers of bacteria, fungi and other infections can lurk in water.
According to Ahmed, the best defense is swimming lenses.
“There is a risk of the presence of several microorganisms, particularly a difficult to treat one called acanthamoeba, which is a parasite that can cause eye infections,” he said.
Especially still waters can harbor such pathogens. Avoid opening your eyelids when underwater to protect them.
“The eyeball is unable to fight various types of infections because it has no blood supply,” Ahmed explained. “If you have scratches on your cornea, which can occur due to dry eyes or even rubbing your eyes, one of these microorganisms can get into those cuts and cause an infection.”
And don’t wear contact lenses while swimming, he said. According to the Baylor press release, “contact lenses absorb water and retain harmful microorganisms that cause infections. Contact causes microabrasions in the eyes, which facilitate eye infections.”
A lawnmower can easily kick up rocks and other debris that could seriously injure your eyes, Ahmed said. Wearing safety glasses while mowing can protect you from this danger.
It is also recommended to wash your hands after gardening, because common plants such as milkweed can irritate the eyes.
How to choose sunglasses correctly and avoid infections in the pool
This time of year many of us are enjoying or about to enjoy vacations: day trips, beach, mountains, change of scene.
Even if we don’t leave the house, summer brings with it a series of risks that can affect the health of our eyes and ruin the season if we don’t respect some fundamental rules and precautions.
There is no doubt that it is essential to protect your skin with sunscreen whenever you are exposed to solar radiation. This is especially true in the summer when it tends to be more intense and last longer each day. But we don’t always pay the same attention to our eyes.
More than just a fashion accessory, sunglasses are above all protection for our eyes. Furthermore, they also help us take care of the skin around them, the thinnest and most delicate of the entire body.
So sunglasses shouldn’t just be beautiful. It is also important to be aware of the three most important characteristics that we should look for in them:
•That they are approved and have passed all their components through the appropriate quality controls. The CE marking indicates that they have passed all EU controls.
•Which filter the light that we “don’t see”: ultraviolet (UV), the most harmful part of solar radiation. Sunglasses should be marked with an acronym followed by a number, such as UV400, to indicate that they filter out all radiation that could cause problems such as photokeratitis or photoconjunctivitis.
•That when we wear sunglasses, the sunlight does not dazzle us, i.e. their lenses are more or less dark. A numerical code, from 1 to 4, indicates not only the intensity of the filter from lowest to highest, but also the activity for which it is indicated or contraindicated.
These three factors should always be appropriately marked on sunglasses if they are of high quality. This is why it is important to purchase them in structures that offer this guarantee and have specialized personnel capable of showing us the right filter for our needs.
A walk in the countryside doesn’t require the same type of protection as a day at the beach or doing water sports. Finally, remember to protect children’s eyes, which are more delicate than those of adults, not only with hats or visors, but also with glasses with an appropriate filter and size.
To cope with the high summer temperatures we look for places – at home, in the car, at a restaurant – equipped with air conditioning or fans. These create fresh air currents, but also dry out the environment and, therefore, the surface of our eyes.
To see well and avoid discomfort, the ocular surface must be covered and moistened with tears. A good recommendation is to stay away or, at least, not expose yourself directly to the grills through which these devices expel cold air. This will help minimize the feeling of discomfort and grittiness produced by dry eyes and eye redness. Furthermore, this situation can be particularly annoying if we wear contact lenses.
Outside, high summer temperatures can also cause this feeling of discomfort, especially if the air is dry. We can try to alleviate the problem with eye drops, which hydrate and lubricate. They don’t look much like natural tears, but they help relieve discomfort. Their components, such as the popular ingredient hyaluronic acid, create a thin layer of moisture that remains on the surface of the eye for some time.
We can use the drops whenever we want but the more we need them, the more important it is to choose products without preservatives. And if we use contact lenses, we should make sure that any drops we use are compatible with the material the lenses are made of, so that they don’t stain or color them. In any case, your optometrist or pharmacist will be able to recommend the most appropriate options.
Sea, river or swimming pool water presents a significant risk of irritation or infection if it enters the eyes. For this reason we must protect them from chlorine or salt, which cause itching, burning or redness, and from microorganisms that can generate dangerous infections such as keratitis or viral or bacterial conjunctivitis.
The way to prevent this is to not put your head or open your eyes underwater, and if we do, use swimming or diving goggles. These must be regularly approved for the activity to be carried out and, if necessary, can be equipped with your prescription.
In summer, contact lenses can pose an additional risk: never swim with them in a river, pool or sea. In fact, any situation in which water can get into the eyes, such as taking a shower, is not recommended.
Irritants (chlorine, salt, etc.) and microorganisms present in the water can become trapped in the lens or between the lens and the eye, causing greater or longer-lasting discomfort and also increasing the risk of infections.
One of the most dangerous pathogens is the protozoan Acanthamoeba, which is often found in water. In 90% of the cases in which they cause infections (fortunately few), they affect contact lens wearers. This is especially evident when you use the soft ones and avoid following their correct use and hygiene advice.
So it is better to go to the beach or swimming pool without contact lenses and using suitable eyeglasses, both to protect ourselves from the sun’s rays – in the case of sunglasses – and for swimming, if we want to see well underwater – in case of glasses. Keeping our delicate eyes safe should always be a priority, especially in summer.
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