Warm weather and longer days invite you to head outside and soak up some rays. But have you ever wondered about how to keep your eyes safe during summer months? Do you think about the common question, “Can eyes get sunburned?” Below, we answer these questions and look at five key tips for getting your eyes summer ready. After all, it is the goal of everyone at Clarity Vision Eye Care Centers to help you ensure your best eye health for years to come.
 

1. Avoid Eye Sunburn

During sunnier months, particularly like those of North Carolina and southeastern Virginia’s summertime, you unwittingly expose your eyes to many shiny surfaces. Sun reflects off the water, whether at the beach or your favorite lake. Sand and pavement reflect light, too. Of course, your car’s windows and body also act as reflective surfaces.

This reflecting light can cause photokeratitis if you do not get your eyes summer ready. This condition is very painful, caused by UV ray burns on your eye’s surface. If you have ever wondered “can eyes get sunburned,” this is your answer. They can, indeed. As a result, you suffer pain, blurry vision, redness and possibly even temporary vision loss.

The reality is that preventing photokeratitis is simple. All you need are a pair of sunglasses marked as providing 100% UV protection, like those sold at Clarity Vision Eye Care Centers or other retailers. You should also wear a wide-brimmed hat to keep the sun out of your eyes, whether on the beach, at baseball games or simply when lounging in your backyard.

You can find sunglasses to suit any budget, get your eyes summer ready and keep your eyes safe at your optometrist’s office. Clarity Vision locations offering a full range of eye health care services, glasses and sunglasses include:

• Smithfield, NC

• Apex, NC

• Williamston, NC

• Clayton, NC

• Holly Springs, NC

• Suffolk, VA
   

2. Prevent Swimmer’s Eye

Swimming pools contain a cocktail of chemicals, primarily chlorine. This chemical and others keep the water clean but can also hurt your eyes. They compromise your eyes’ natural balance, primarily your tear film. This moist film is vital for eye health, keeping these organs moist. As a result of “swimmer’s eye,” you can experience a range of symptoms, such as redness, feeling of grittiness in your eyes and blurred vision.

Preventing swimmer’s eye is easy. First, wear swim goggles when in the pool. Second, after finishing your swimming for the day, splash some fresh water on your closed eyes to rinse the area. If you are an avid swimmer, a great pair of goggles can get your eyes summer ready.
 

3. Protect Your Eyes From Dryness

Dry eye can easily occur in the summertime, when the air is also dry and warm. On a windy day or when you play outdoors, this condition can be at its worst. Dry eye is a condition that occurs for several reasons, such as when the tear film on your eyes evaporates too quickly. To prevent eye health problems related to dry eye and get your eyes summer ready, talk to your optometrist about preservative-free eyedrops.
 

4. Protect Your Eyes From Injuries

North Carolina and Virginia are home to many military families. Most military members have heard the term “foreign object damage,” also called FOD. Well, FOD damage can happen to anyone’s eyes, particularly in the summer when we spend more time outdoors.

Everyday activities like lawn mowing, sports, motorcycle riding, beachcombing on a windy day or even playing around the house can lead to eye injuries. Just about anything striking your eye can cause permanent damage. In fact, more than half of these injuries occur at home.

The simple solution to prevent these eye health problems and get your eyes summer ready is wearing eye protection. You should ensure you protect your eyes with safety glasses when working in the yard, playing sports or pursuing other activities. If you walk the beach or stay outside on a windy day, simply wear sunglasses to keep your eyes covered. For motorcycle riding, ensure you always use a DOT-approved shatterproof visor on your helmet.
 

5. Visit Your Optometrist or Ophthalmologist for an Eye Exam

Your eye health is extremely important any time of the year. Visiting your optometrist or ophthalmologist before or during summer can help you get your eyes summer ready and well-protected. Keep your eyes safe and schedule an eye exam at your nearest Clarity Vision Eye Care Center location today.