5 Steps To Ensure Good Eyes If You Spend Considerable Time Under The Sun
On sunny days, all of us love to spend time outside – enjoy a chilled Slurpee or take selfies with friends huddled along the beach. While you enjoy the summer, don’t forget to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from the heat and glare of the sun.
Drinking adequate water and using sunscreen regularly are the easiest ways to keep your skin protected and your body well hydrated. But what about your eyes? When it comes to eye protection during the summer season, we usually tend to overlook it. 1 However, eyes are sensitive organs and can be quite vulnerable to sun rays.
Safe Eyes All Summer
It is essential to practice good habits to maintain your eye health. One of the easiest ways to keep your eyes protected during summer is to keep them covered. You can either use sunglasses and wrap a headscarf or pair your sunglasses with a cap or hat to safeguard your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun.
To help you enjoy your summer safely, we have listed five ways you can make sure that your eyes stay protected from the sun during summer –
1. Be Mindful and Pack Smartly
Going out in the sun during summer 2, you are exposed to harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Thus, it would help if you packed everyday essentials before leaving the house to keep yourself protected.
For instance, If it is a day outing, carry your sunglasses, sunscreen, scarf or brimmed hat, and water bottle. Doing so, you will know you are keeping your eyes, skin, and body protected so you can enjoy your outing.
2. Choose the Right Sunglasses
To safeguard your eyes from the harmful sun rays and its glares, you need to be careful while choosing the type of eye shades. 3 There are three types of Ultraviolet (UV) radiations:
- UV-C: Absorbed by the ozone layer and do not reach the earth’s surface
- UV-A& UV-B: Reach the earth’s surface across open skies and through reflections in our surrounding environments such as concrete buildings, or water fountains, or sand in a beach all reflect UV-A and UV-B rays
Go for premium quality sunglasses that offer UV protection by blocking harmful UV rays so that you have a pleasant experience in the sun.
3. Use The Right Contact Lenses
Wearing contact lenses feels excellent as they offer a clear and convenient natural peripheral vision. But what about wearing contact lenses during the summers? Are you using the right types of contact lenses? The ones that can block UV rays? Yes, special contact lenses are specifically designed to offer eye protection against harmful UV rays.
4 According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the classification of contact lenses that provide protection against UV rays can be divided into two categories: Class I and Class II.
- Class I UV- Absorber: Recommended for high-level exposure environments like beaches or high altitude areas such as mountains. Contact lenses in this category absorb nearly 90% UV-A and almost 99% of UV-B rays.
- Class II UV- Absorber: Recommended for everyday general purposes such as office wear or personal wear. Contact lenses in this category absorb more than 50% of UV-A and 95% of UV-B rays.
Remember to consult with your optometrist to find suitable options for contact lenses that protect against UV rays. To include an extra-added layer of protection, you can pair your UV protection contact lenses with UV-blocking sunglasses.
4. Practice Eating Healthier Meals Everyday
Practicing to eat a healthy and balanced diet can not only significantly improve your eye health 5 but also your overall health. Create a diet regimen that includes low fats and more significant portions of fruits, green vegetables, and whole grains. In case you are a non-vegetarian, you can include large portions of food rich in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon and tuna in your diet. Some essential nutrients that are good for your eyes:
- Vitamin A (Sweet Potato, Apricots)
- Vitamin C (Oranges, Red Bell Peppers)
- Vitamin E (Avocados, Almonds, Sunflower Seeds)
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- Lutein and Zeaxanthin (Leafy Vegetables Like Kale, Spinach)
- Beans and Zinc (Oysters, Kidney Beans, Poultry)
5. Get Your Eyes Regularly Examined
Whether you believe you have perfectly healthy eyes or not 6, you must get your eyes thoroughly tested by an eye care professional at least once a year. Apart from treating eye problems, a thorough and comprehensive vision screening and test performed by an eye care practitioner can help you stay updated on your eye health and also prevent any severe eye conditions.
Whether you like wearing contact lenses or eyeglasses, before you make any change to your wear and care schedule, make sure you discuss it with your eye care practitioner and follow their recommendation.
For Contact Lenses Wearers: Research, Consult and Follow
When you start a new habit or try to change an old one, it might seem a bit challenging, but once you do your research, read its benefits and consult with a specialist, it is pretty easy to practice healthy habits and follow safety measures. The same goes for wearing contact lenses and other visual aids. Before you make any decisions about wearing contact lenses or switching to other types of contact lenses, always consult with an eye care professional first.
At Bausch+Lomb, we provide different types of contact lenses for various vision conditions, including lenses to reduce the end of the day dryness, to enable you with superior comfort and visual acuity. Our range consists of multiple types of contact lenses made with unique materials that prevent lens dehydration and provide all-day comfort. Bausch+Lomb Ultra Contact Lenses, designed with patented MoistureSeal Technology, retains almost 95% of its moisture to enable comfortable wear of up to 16 hours in a day*.
Similarly, we also have unique contact lenses, like the Biotrue ONEday lenses, daily disposable contact lenses made with HyperGel material that retains up to 98% moisture and offers UV protection to your eyes. So, explore our collection of different types of contact lenses and start your journey towards better vision today!
Sources:
[1] https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/summer-sun-eye-safety
[2] http://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/caring-for-your-vision/uv-protection/sun-initiative?sso=y
[3] https://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/caring-for-your-vision/uv-protection/uv-protection-with-contact-lenses
[4] https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/fabulous-foods-your-eyes
[5] https://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/caring-for-your-vision/comprehensive-eye-and-vision-examination/recommended-examination-frequency-for-pediatric-patients-and-adults
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