Summer eye-care tips

Summers are synonymous with scorching sun and relentless heat, both of which do you no good. Here are a few tips that experts suggest to make your summer more enjoyable...

Use good sunglasses
Just as we use sunscreen to keep the sun's UV rays from harming our skin, UV treatment in eyeglass lenses blocks those same rays from damaging our eyes. "Overexposure to ultraviolet light is thought to be a cause of cataracts, retinal damage and other eye problems. For summer the ideal sunglasses are those with a wrap around frame. It keeps the sun and the dust out and the cool in," says eye specialist Dr Keiki Mehta.

Lubricating eye drops
It’s not only the skin which dries out in summer, but even the eyes. Lubricating drops are ideal at this time of the year. Ideally the drops should be preservative free and fortunately in India many are now available, literally off the shelf. Use the drops freely. They keep the eyes comfortable and quiet.

Typically the Ultraviolet light tends to reflect off water and snow. “Therefore if you wish to indulge in any sporty activities, especially water sports, make sure you put on a good pair of sunglasses, else your eyes are prone to redness and also serious injuries including cornea damage,” points out eye specialist Dr Abhishek.

Use protective clear glasses
Outdoor activities like camping have become common. However in doing camping activities like chopping wood or cooking around a camp fire be sure to use clear protective glasses. All too often flying embers in stiff wind can lead to severe eye burns which could have been easily avoided. States eye surgeon Dr Dinesh Sharma, “Outdoor sports like bicycling and dirt bike-riding are activities where the eyes are likely to be hit by flying debris and where clear glasses come handy.”

Eye protection in the swimming pool
The cool water and the blue pool can be very inviting in summers. But please do not forget your goggles. In summer, the incidence of skin infection in swimming pools rises and most pools will increase the amount  of chlorine or other chemicals to keep the water safe but this often leads to weepy irritable eyes. Be safe. Use your goggles and the moment you get out of the pool wash your eyes with fresh water.