We tend to forget about the health of our eyes. We’ll notice a blister or a blemish but our eyes we just take for granted, until something goes wrong. The problem with that is that by the time we take action, the damage has already been done. Summer can be an especially difficult time for eyes: with concerns like high pollen counts, strong sun glare, sand, and dust. Here are a few suggestions to help you keep those often neglected eyes of yours in good health.
Hay fever
You can experience discomfort from hay fever at any stage of your life, even if you’ve never suffered from it before. If you find that you are suddenly sneezing a lot and your eyes are running, you are probably suffering from the effects of a high pollen count coupled with high temperatures. Your first port of call is a pharmacist, who will be able to advise you whether you should consult a doctor, or more likely, they will provide you themselves with the appropriate hay fever medication.
Sore Eyes
Hot dry winds and dusty conditions mean that your eyes are more prone to soreness during the summer months. You can sooth sore eyes by using eye drops. There are a variety of treatments, appropriate to a range of sore eye conditions.
Keep Hydrated
Keeping hydrated at all times is important for good general health, and it is especially important for your eyes. If you find it difficult to remember to drink enough, get an app that tracks your water intake, and sends you notifications when you need to drink more.
Wear Sunglasses
Sunglasses protect your eyes from dry winds and grit, but most importantly, they protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, which cause macular degeneration, the leading cause of sight loss. Choose some from a reliable brand, that you can be confident provide you with 100% UV protection. If you wear optical glasses, you can choose to have your prescription lenses fitted in sunglasses.
Watch Out for Chlorinated Pools
Chlorine can make your eyes sore and cause damage to them so always wear swimming goggles in chlorinated pools.
Don’t Rub Your Eyes
Eye related conditions like conjunctivitis can develop if you don’t keep your eyes clean. Avoid rubbing your eyes, but if you do need to remove something from them, ensure that your hands are clean.
Your Eyes Need Rest
Sleep restores the natural lipid layer on the surface of your eyes and allows your eye muscles to relax and recover. Make sure that you are getting around 8-9 hours of quality sleep every night.
Visit Your Optometrist Regularly
Even if you think your eyes are fine, it’s important to visit the optometrist regularly because they can spot problematic conditions before they become serious. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol can all be detected with an eye examination. You should have your eyes checked by a professional at least every two years.
Monitor Your Screen Time
The blue light from tech screens is harmful to your eyes. You should always take regular breaks from your screen, and if you are experiencing adverse effects, such as headaches, you should consult your doctor.
