Oh, summer has clothed the earth
In a cloak from the loom of the sun!
And a mantle, too, of the skies’ soft blue,
And a belt where the rivers run.
– Paul Laurence Dunbar
Love it or Hate it. The summers are here. The sun blazes in the sky as we try our best to escape its wrath. Sun screen lotions flow out from bottles uninhibitedly. Cold drinks find their way into many a parched mouth. We do all that we can to keep our cool (literally!). But how much care do we take of our eyes?
Here are some eye care tips especially for the summers…
Use Larger Sunglasses: Buy a pair of Sunglasses with wide lenses. Wrap around frames are the best as they give protection even from the sides.
Ensure that your Sunglasses provide 100% UV protection: The cost of your sunglasses may not be related to the protection offered. You may instead cause harm to your eyes if you wear sunglasses with inadequate protection.
Don’t let the clouds deceive you: Even its cloudy, the UV radiation can still reach your eyes. Wear sunglasses even on a cloudy day.
Do not forget your sunglasses at the beach: We tend to frequent beaches and swimming pools in a bid to beat the heat. Remember that when you are near the water, you face double the exposure as sunrays get reflected off the water in addition to the direct light.
Wear a wide brimmed hat: Though sun glasses are useful, large sun hats will give you additional protection.
Keep yourself hydrated: Drink at least 2 litres of water. This will prevent your skin as well your eyes from getting dehydrated.
Apply sunscreen carefully especially near the eyes: Sunscreens can cause discomfort if they accidently get into your eyes.
Avoid the mid-day sun: 11 am to 3 pm is when the sun is at its strongest and the maximum UV damage can occur. Try to stay indoors during these hours and do not leave without protection if you absolutely must.
Protect your eyes in the pool: The chlorine in pools is usually increased in summers to avoid infections as larger numbers thronging the pools create a greater need for disinfection. However this can irritate your eyes. Hence do not forget to wear swimming goggles every time you jump into the pool. Wash your eyes with fresh clean water after swimming.
Use lubricating eye drops: Greater use of the air conditioning means greater chances of your eyes getting dry. Use preservative free eye drops to give comfort to your eyes.
Protective eye gear during outdoor activities: Summers are a time when most of us go for vacations and indulge in outdoor activities like camps and sports. Always use protective eye gear to prevent eye injuries by flying debris.
Enjoy the summers with mangoes, lazy afternoons spent indoors and vacations to cooler climates.
