Summer Eye Care - Protection and Allergy Relief

We are in the thick of summer with temperatures climbing and lots of sunshine. If you are concerned with summer safety, you might think about life preservers and staying well hydrated.

Although eye health may not be your first thought, it is still important to maintain good eye care to avoid injuries and infection and to keep your eyes healthy. 
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With the right precautions and steps, you can keep your eyes healthy and protect your vision this summer and all year round. Consider the following:
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Preventing summer eye injuries

Eye injuries can happen any time of the year, but warmer weather often brings an increase in certain activities that can lead to eye injuries. To protect vision this summer, wear the appropriate eyewear for whatever type of sports you participant in.

Also, protect your eyes at home. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, about 50 percent of eye injuries occur at home. If you plan to do some home improvement projects this summer or even just yard work, wear safety goggles.

Also, be cautious if you are celebrating Independence Day with fireworks or sparklers. They can easily lead to eye injuries.  According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, 15 percent of injures due to fireworks are to the eyes. Your best bet is to leave fireworks to the professionals and be a spectator. 
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​Treating summer eye allergies

If you have summer eye allergies, it can make you miserable. Common allergens include mold, dust, and pollen. Depending on where you live, pollen counts may still be high in the summer. In some parts of the country, seeds and mold levels climb in summer months.

Whatever the allergen that causes eye allergies, symptoms can include:

• Itchy eyes
• Redness
• Burning
• Watery eyes
• Dry eyes

If you suffer from summer eye allergies, there are things that may help keep symptoms at bay. For instance, wash your face as soon as you come in from outside. Wear sunglasses outside to decrease the amount of pollen or mold spores that get into your eyes.

Be careful to avoid rubbing your eyes if they are itchy, which can make symptoms worse. Also, talk with your eye doctor about eye drops. 
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UV damage to the eyes affects both adults and children 

While we might love the warm sunshine, too much exposure to the rays from the sun can damage the eyes. Even young eyes are at risk. Damage from UV rays is cumulative. The exposure you have in childhood can affect your eyes later in life and increase your chances of certain conditions, such as cataracts.

Everyone should protect their eyes by limiting UV exposure. Wear sunglasses. Apply sunscreen around your eyes, including the lids. Wear a wide-brimmed hat for extra protection.

Although anyone can develop problems from too much sun exposure, certain factors may increase your risk. For example, if you have light-colored eyes, you typically have less melanin than someone with dark eyes. Less melanin means less eye protection. If you live at a high altitude, you might also be at an increased risk of UV damage from the sun. 
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Decrease your risk of summertime eye infections

If you’re spending time outside this summer, you are not alone. Summer activities, such as swimming and camping, are a popular way to enjoy the outdoors, but don’t let an eye infection ruin your day.

Eye infections, such as conjunctivitis, can happen any time of the year, including summer. If you swim in rivers or lakes, you can also develop an eye infection from pathogens in the water. 

To decrease your risk of an eye infection this summer, be sure to stay away from people that have conjunctivitis since it is contagious.

It is also helpful to wash your hands often. Consider wearing swim goggles to keep contaminates out of your eyes. Even if you swim in a chlorinated pool, goggles are helpful to prevent irritation from the chlorine and other pool chemicals.

Remember, summer does not mean a vacation from good habits that protect your eyes. We are happy to help if you have any questions. If you would like to discuss whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time, please call our office at 508-746-8600. 
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