Summer eye health tips: 12 best eye care tips to protect your eyes in the harsh summer sun

Summer is the season when most of us have long vacations and spend our free time outdoors, but even for those of us who don’t take off our shoes, eyes need extra care during this season as we are out in the sun which is very strong and UV rays are at their peak. Apart from our skin, our eyes are the most affected organ during the summer season,

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Jai Goyal, eye surgeon, LASIK and retina specialist and director, Surya Eye Hospital, said that if precautions are not taken, our eyes can –

1. Eye allergies
2. Dry Eyes
3. Eye infections like stye, conjunctivitis etc.

According to them, dry eyes can cause irritation, itching and sensitivity to light or general discomfort, so they have given some tips that can help you protect your eyes in summer –

1. UV protective sunglasses: UV rays can cause photokeratitis and dry eye. Harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can accelerate the formation of cataracts, macular degeneration, and other age-related problems. Wear sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection, and block both UVA and UVB rays. Always wear sunglasses whenever you are outside, even on cloudy days.
2. Use a hat/cap or visor: In addition to sunglasses, wearing a wide-brimmed hat/cap or visor can protect your eyes from direct sunlight. This helps reduce the amount of UV rays reaching your eyes and the potential damage they cause.
3. Limit screen time: Continuous screen use is a very common cause of dry eyes. Our eyes are already prone to dry eyes in the summer season. Therefore, limiting the time in front of the screen or taking frequent breaks while using a screen helps to reduce dry eyes.
4. artificial tears: Lubricating eye drops help a lot in reducing dry eyes and soothing already dry eyes. It is very helpful to consult your local eye doctor who can prescribe you eye drops depending on the severity of your dry eye.
5. Eye protection while swimming: Swimming is the most fun activity in summer, but it can cause eye problems. Many pools are treated with chlorine which can cause eye irritation. Therefore, it is best to always wear eye goggles for swimming. Make sure to wash and rinse your eyes with fresh water after swimming so that the eyes remain fresh and healthy.

In her list of eye care tips for summer, Mumbai-based ophthalmologist Dr Shachi Joshi suggests some more inclusive eye care trends that can possibly help keep your eyes safe and cool during this summer –

1. stay hydrated: Dehydration is very common in summers, especially in children. It is important to drink water and other fluids regularly to maintain hydration. Good hydration helps to keep our eyes glowing.
2. eat healthy: Take advantage of all the fresh fruits and vegetables available in the summer. In particular, leafy vegetables (spinach, arugula and kale), tomatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli and zucchini are rich in important nutrients – carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin – that protect your eyes from damage and deterioration.
3. Avoid direct air from air conditioner or fan: Although air conditioners are needed to keep us cool in the summer, we should also take care that the air does not fall directly on our face or eyes, as this may cause dry eyes.
4. Get quality sleep: Lack of sleep causes dry and itchy eyes. This also causes other health problems. Adequate sleep is very important for a healthy body.
5. hand hygiene: Our eyes get very itchy in summers. If we don’t wash our hands, it can lead to eye infections like stye, conjunctivitis, etc. Children are especially susceptible to this.
6. washing hands regularly This is especially important during the summer.
7. avoid the midday sun

Stay indoors whenever possible, especially during the morning and afternoon as this is when the sun’s strength is at its peak and UV rays are at their strongest. If you do need to go outside, wear polarised lenses as they reduce glare.