Eye diseases increase by 25% during the hottest months of the year. According to the medical director of iSalud.com, Judith Calpe, this is when it’s more common to suffer from eye conditions such as irritations, infections and dryness.
Summer is upon us, and you must be prepared to take care of your skin to prevent burns or worse, but it’s also important to look after your eyes.
The medical director of iSalud.com, Judith Calpe, says that “sun exposure increases during the summer, and although we know we must take care of our skin, we tend to forget the importance of protecting our eyes to avoid eye irritations, infections or dryness, which are problems during the hottest months”.
According to a study carried out by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), eyes conditions increase by 25% at this time of year. The main reason is that we’re more exposed to solar radiation, dry air and contact with water, which all favour the onset of eye problems. iSalud.com, Spain’s leading health-care insurance price comparison website has prepared 7 essential tips to help you take care of your eye health this summer.
- Always wear eye protection during outdoor activities. For Dr Judith Calpe, “Wearing sunglasses is essential to protect your eyes from airborne impurities and the sun’s rays, especially in summer, when they reach extreme levels and can cause corneal injuries. You need to be particularly careful if you plan on doing outdoor activities as prolonged exposure can lead to blinding and confusion and increase the chances of cataracts over time”.
- Use goggles at the pool or beach. It’s common to go to the pool, beach or do water activities at this time of the year, but it’s also important to remember that the chlorine or sea salt in the water can provoke eye irritations. The iSalud.com medical director says that “contact with the water, although it’s seen as something harmless, can cause redness, infections and corneal abrasions. Using goggles helps to avoid these problems in most cases”.
- Keep your eyes hydrated. Among other factors, air conditioning or the dryness of the outdoor environment, cause your eyes to suffer more dryness. Dr Calpe says, “all you need to do is use a normal saline solution or eye moisturiser as an artificial tears solution.”
- Do you notice a foreign body in your eyes? Getting sand, dust or even a stray eyelash in your eyes can cause discomfort. The best thing to do to remove them is “to use a physiological saline solution and an eyewash, but if this doesn’t work and you notice throbbing or blindness, you should visit a specialist as it could lead to a corneal ulcer,” according to iSalud.com.
- Choose wraparound sunglasses that cover all the area around your eyes. The lenses of your sunglasses should have a dark coloured UV protective screen. Dr Calpe also points out that it’s important that “your sunglasses are comfortable and lightweight to prevent chaffing”, rather than being fashionable.
- Avoid hours of the day with the greatest sun exposure. Hours in the middle of the day from 12 midday until 5pm are when you’re most exposed to the sun, which is why the medical director says that it’s essential to protect your eyes with sunglasses and to control the moisture in your eyes.
- Start early with eye protection for kids. You should take special care of young children’s eyes during the summer. For Dr Calpe, it’s important to try and keep them in the shade and prevent them from being out in the sun too much during the hours with the greatest sun exposure. You also need to remember that children need to wear a hat or a sun visor with their sunglasses during these months.
