Stinging pool chemicals, poison ivy, rogue fireworks, the summer is chock full of hazards to your eyes. There’s no need to stay indoors however. Here are some summer eye protection tips to make sure you don’t miss out on all the fun:
Protect those baby blues from ultraviolet
Ever had a terribly red and painful sunburn? Well, imagine that burn on your corneas. That’s what can happen if you don’t protect your eyes from the strong rays of the summer sun with a quality pair of sunglasses. They don’t have to be very dark or overly expensive. Just make sure they are rated to block both UVB and UVA rays. Contact lenses with UV blockers can also help block harmful UV rays. Although not a substitute for sunglasses, they do offer supplemental protection. Some good examples of lenses are made with UV blockers are Avaira and Clearsight 1 Day contact lenses by CooperVision.
Remember protective glasses
Eye protection isn’t just for welders and construction workers. Having a good pair of protective glasses to wear during common summertime activities like yard work, home improvement projects, and ball sports can prevent serious eye injuries. And if you’re thinking goggles will help with fireworks, best to stay away all together as, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, fireworks result in 2,700 eye injuries a year (one-fourth of which are permanent).
If it stings, wash it out
There’s no shortage of creams, sprays, and chemicals that find their way into our eyes during the summertime. Sunscreens are great for skin but not for eyes, so choose a waterproof kind that won’t drip when you sweat or swim. Don’t forget to wash your hands after applying sunscreen and before you handle your lenses. Poison ivy, oak, and sumac produce oils that are very irritating to their eyes and require immediate rinsing with clean water. Also, wash your eyes if they come in contact with unbalanced pool chemicals, insect repellent, or untreated lake or pond water.
Summer is a favorite time of year. Follow these eye protection tips, go out and enjoy the sunshine in safety!