How To Protect Your Eyes This Summer

Summer is one of the most fun times of the year – as long as you remember to protect your eyes! To help you out, here are our summer eye care tips.

1. Your eyes can get sunburned

Your eyes are exposed to harmful UVA and UVB rays whenever you go outside – on cloudy days, too. Even short-term exposure can harm your eyes, affect your vision and compromise your overall eye health. If you've ever wondered, “can your eyes get sunburned?” the answer is, yes. And no one wants to spend their summer treating sunburned eyes. Conditions such as macular degeneration, sun blindness, and cataracts have also been strongly linked to UV exposure. Doctors recommend wearing sunglasses that protect from UVA and UVB rays whenever you're outside. This will also help avoid nasty headaches and eye wrinkles that come from squinting.

2. Protect your eyes during home improvement projects.

Summer is the perfect time for all your home improvement jobs. However, not wearing a sturdy pair of goggles puts your eyes at serious risk of painful corneal scratches and possible vision impairment. You can even wear goggles over your glasses! Make sure you and your spouse (or little helper) wear proper eye protection.

3. Protect your kids' eyes with specialized sports eyewear.

Most sports come with a level of risk of eye injury. But did you know, there are approximately 100,000 sports-related eye injuries every year? If your kids wear glasses regularly, make sure they're wearing prescription sports goggles to protect them from the wild hop of a ground ball or the flailing arms of a defender. No matter what sport your kids play, it's best to be proactive in protecting their vision.

4. Keep your eyes chemical free.

You may be asking, “why do my eyes itch in the summer?” Well, sun isn't the only thing you should worry about exposing your eyes to. Summer is full of activities that will put you in contact with chemical irritants like; insect repellent, sunscreen, chlorine and others. So, it’s best to avoid getting any chemicals in your eyes. But if you do, rinse your eyes immediately with drinking water or artificial tears. Finally, at the first sign of irritation, contact an eye care professional. Fun tip: wear goggles when swimming in pools to protect your eyes from any chemicals.

5. Be on the lookout for eye hazards.

From fireworks to fishing poles to bungee cords, summer is full of activities that can have hidden dangers. Whether directly involved or just a bystander, remember to take steps to keep your eyes safe. Wear protective gear, say no to activities you think might be too hazardous, use prescription sunglasses and most of all – don't forget to have fun.

6. Remember, vision correction is essential outdoors.

Prescription sunglasses are essential when you're outside and shouldn't be replaced with regular sunglasses. Prescription sunglasses enable you to drive safely, read while relaxing outdoors, jog without blurry vision and many more. With our extensive selection of prescription sunglasses, you can make sure to pick a pair that will keep your eyes safe – and be on the season's trend.

Of course, this list is far from all-inclusive. Think of it as a reminder to use all of your senses this summer, most importantly – common sense. For the best eye health results, get quality prescription sunglasses and a comprehensive eye exam that checks for overall eye health before the season starts.

Arrange your eye exam at your neighbourhood Pearle Vision.