As the weather warms up, many families plan fun outdoor activities and summer vacations. As you put away your jackets and pull out the swimsuits, make sure you are proactive about protecting yourself from the sun. Not only is sunscreen application a must-do every time you are outside, but it’s also important to take care of your eyes as well.
Here are a few tips to protect your eyes when you are outside. These tips are essential all year long, but especially in the summer when you are spending more time outdoors:
Invest in a quality part of sunglasses that have lenses with UV protection. These sunglasses minimize your risk of photokeratitis. Plus, you can wear polarized lenses that improve your safety while driving or enjoying water sports because the lenses reduce the glare.
Plus, sunglasses protect your eyes by keeping dust and dirt away. The layer of protection minimizes the risk of debris blowing into your eyes.
Even if you are wearing contact lenses with UV protection, it’s still important to wear sunglasses. Remember that contact lenses only cover a portion of the eye while sunglasses provide full coverage.
A wide-brimmed hat is a great way to protect your eyes, face, and neck from UV exposure. Choose a hat with a minimum of 3-inches in width with a brim. Make sure it’s a full-coverage hat to minimize the need for sunscreen.
In addition to providing sun protection, a good hat can also be a stylish accessory for your outfit of the day! It’s important to wear both sunglasses and a hat to offer maximum protection for your eyes.
Goggles can be a great way to keep the water out of your eyes when you are planning water activities. For example, minimizing water exposure keeps the chlorine off your eyeballs if you are in a swimming pool. Additionally, eye protection might help to reduce your exposure to germs that could cause infections.
Other types of protective eye equipment are essential on the sports field or when you are doing yard work. For example, eye protection is always crucial when you are mowing the lawn or trimming the trees because of the risk of something flying into the eye and causing long-term damage.
For more information about protecting your eyes, or if you’d like to talk to an eye doctor about your prescription, we are always here to help. Contact Temecula Creek Optometry to schedule an examination and consultation with a local eye doctor: (951) 302 -1331.