Summer is a time when we tend to spend more time outdoors, exposing our eyes to the sun for longer and other potentially harmful circumstances such as opening our eyes when we bathe at the beach or pool. In this way, the risk factors of suffering an ocular pathology increase and, therefore, it is necessary to pay special attention to eye care in summer.

The sun eye problems They are very common in the summer season but they are not the only ones. Seawater, swimming pool or air conditioning can also cause serious damage.

En Área Oftalmológica We tell you everything you need to know to maintain proper eye health.

Tips to take care of your eyes in summer

Why is it important to take care of your eyes in summer? 

By spending more time outdoors, our eyes are exposed to risks such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, visible light and infrared light (IR).

These factors can cause different eye injuries, such as:

There are also other circumstances that can trigger pathologies in our eyes, such as la exposure to chlorine and bacteria present in the pools.

In addition, it is important to note that sea water often reflects sunlight a 30% more than the rest of the year, thus increasing the incidence of radiation in the eyes.

11 tips to take care of your eyes in summer

Because of the risks discussed above, it is necessary to take measures for the care of the eyes. Here we offer you a series of tips for the summer in order to maintain optimal eye health.

Use approved sunglasses

The power of UV rays is stronger during the summer than in the rest of the year, to which is added that we spend more time outdoors

For this reason it is important to wear good sunglasses. And no, they are not worth just any: they must be high quality and bought in a specialized establishment. In fact, wearing poor quality glasses will be counterproductive.

He wears a hat

The pair of sunglasses and hat is always a successful combination in summer, since it will protect you from radiation twice. 

This way you can make sure not get any rays of sunlight directly in the eyes.

Wash your eyes and face often

It is advisable to wash your eyes before and after bathing on the beach or in the pool. Use a clean tissue to dry yourself and so on you will eliminate polluting substances from the environment, as well as bacteria or harmful components of chlorine present in swimming pool water.

Blinks often

With increasing temperatures, it is common for the eyes to experience a higher level of dryness, which can be aggravated if we spend many hours in front of screens.

Blinking frequently will help you combat dry eyes, but in case it persists, you can resort to the use of artificial tears to hydrate your eyes. In the most severe cases we have new treatments such as Pulsed light or drops made from the patient's own blood.

Don't look directly at the sun

Looking directly at the sun is highly damaging to the eyes at any time of the day, even if it is the time of dawn or dusk. 

Even if we wear good sunglasses, looking directly at the sun is always discouraged, as this can cause burns, corneal injuries y keratoconjunctivitis.

Protect your eyes underwater

If you like diving or you just can't help but open your eyes underwater, you should get yourself some goggles. You will avoid irritation, redness and stinging typical of chlorine or seawater. 

In addition, in this way you will avoid coming into direct contact with the bacteria and other harmful components present in the waters of the beaches and swimming pools.

Beware of contact lenses 

Use contact lenses during the summer it does not have to represent any problem strictly. Anyway, it is not advisable to use them while bathing in a pool or in the sea. 

Fungi and bacteria can accumulate on the lenses that will cause an infection, so it is advisable that you remove them before bathing.

Be careful when spreading sun cream 

It is important to protect the skin around the eyes from UV rays, as this area is especially sensitive.

However, when applying protective cream, care must be taken that it does not come into contact with the eyes. Wash your hands after applying the cream so that the remains do not irritate you if you rub your eyes.

Beware of environmental dryness

Dry eyes occur very frequently in very dry environments or after exposure to air conditioners, so it is normal for it to increase during the sensation of Dry Eye in the hot months. This effect can cause a lot of discomfort, such as eye irritation or irregular blinking.

If this problem persists, you will need to use artificial tears in moderation and consult a specialist as we are.

Eat a balanced diet 

Good eating It is the best gift you can give your body and the eyes are no exception. If any time of the year is good to incorporate vegetables, in summer it becomes essential. 

Prepare your fruits and vegetables in cold soups, such as gazpacho, or very fresh salads. 

Another advisable option is consume smoothies that include foods like apricots, peaches, or carrots. These foods are rich in vitamin A, which helps improve vision.

Risk factors for eyesight 

To exercise extreme caution, it is best to consider all risk factors.

  • Central hours of the day. Between 10 a.m. and 14 p.m., direct exposure should be avoided. Your skin will also appreciate it. 
  • Age. Children are more vulnerable to the effects of summer, so their protection and care must be more exhaustive. 
  • Cloudiness. We tend to relax about the dangers of the sun when there are clouds, when 90% of the radiation actually reaches us. Wear sunscreen and sunglasses even on cloudy days.
  • Reflection of light. At sea it is three times higher, so be careful on the beach or on boat trips. 
  • Latitude. The closer to the equator, the greater danger to your eyes.
  • Altitude. If you plan an outing to the mountain, protect yourself especially. The higher the altitude, the higher the radiation.
  • Eye color. People with dark eyes have more natural protection than those with light eyes. 

Good practices to take care of your eyes in summer

  • Limit direct sun exposure: The most dangerous hours of the day are between eleven in the morning and five in the afternoon, when the sun hits harder. If during these hours you are going to be on the beach or in the mountains, be careful because the water and the sand increase the radiations by reflecting them and making a rebound effect.
  • Use quality sun glasses: To protect yourself from the above, the best thing you can do is wear sunglasses, but not all of them work. Check if yours have both types of filters: the UV filter and the filter that blocks visible light. If you are going to spend many hours in the sun, it is important to use this type of sunglasses with good quality lenses and ultraviolet filters. If you wear soft lenses, remember to wear artificial tears.
  • If you are going to bathe, wear glasses: Chemical substances in swimming pools, such as chlorine, or the salt in sea water can end up causing eye infections, the symptoms of which are, among others, red eyes or itching.
  • If you wear contact lenses, let your eyes rest: if you use contact lenses And you are going to go to the beach or the pool, remember to clean them well afterwards and keep them in their case. Also, if you are going to be away from home for many hours, take your glasses so you can change them and thus let your eyes rest.
  • Avoid very dry environments or with very high air conditioners: This type of environmental conditions causes dry eyes and, consequently, irritation, gritty sensation and excessive tearing. If we scratch them we can end up suffering conjunctivitis.
  • Follow a balanced diet: Food plays a very important role in our health. There are lots of recipes to cook blue fish, vegetables and prepare quick and easy fruit smoothies that will help hydrate your dry eyes as well as preventing other eye problems. Some fruits and vegetables, such as apricots or peaches, are rich in vitamin A, which helps improve vision. The red fruits for their part will help you avoid dry eyes. Also add avocados, cabbages, watercress, lettuce, carrots and green beans to your diet, as they are a magnificent natural filter against the sun's ultraviolet radiation.
  • Practice physical exercise: during the summer we have more free time and, as the days are longer, we spend more hours away from home that we can take advantage of to practice some sport. This habit, combined with good nutrition and hydration, helps to neutralize the so-called "free radicals", harmful to our eyes and present in the ultraviolet radiation of the sun and tobacco.

However, if you are going to exercise, it is advisable to take the necessary precautions: if you are going to try ball sports, such as tennis or paddle tennis, wear glasses to avoid blows. In the case of cycling, glasses are also important to prevent sand or dust from getting into your eyes. When it comes to swimming, you'd better use your goggles.

Also, while doing these activities you will not be aware of the phone, the computer or the Tablet and thanks to this you will reduce the excessive use of these devices during the rest of the year due to work and / or study. Avoid dry eyes and reduce the frequency of blinking.

  • If you put on makeup, do not forget to clean your face well: There are studies that show that if we do not remove our skin, it can age up to ten years and, as it is harmful to the epidermis, it is harmful for vision. Some chemicals can be very negative for our eyes.
  • If you are under some type of treatment, such as the use of eye drops or pills, do not forget to follow it. Eye problems do not take days off.
  • Finally, if a problem arises consult with your trusted ophthalmologist the doubts that arise and check your eyes periodically: prevention is better than cure.

In summary, taking care of your eyes in summer is not that difficult, it will be enough to follow these simple tips and avoid unnecessary problems. Enjoy holidays!

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10 tips to take care of your eyes in summer
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10 tips to take care of your eyes in summer
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Take note and follow our tips to take care of your eyes in summer. Avoid unnecessary problems and enjoy your vacation.
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Área Oftalmológica Avanzada
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