Posted by: OptiVision Eye care in Health, Vision
Finally, it’s summertime – the sun is shining, people are smiling, and your eyes are at risk. Okay, that last part might not be what normally comes to mind when the weather gets hotter, but that doesn’t make it any less important! Your eye health should be a primary concern during the summer months, as spending more time outside or in summer camp can put your vision in a vulnerable position. However, you can still enjoy that sweet summer sun by protecting your eyes and prioritizing your health.
Sunglasses
This one is easy. Sunglasses are extremely important in the summer. Not only can they relieve you from the pain of squinting as you battle the sunset on your drive home from work, but they can also protect your eyes from the negative effects of ultraviolet light. Sunglasses with 99% or higher UV absorption as well as protection from both UVA and UVB rays are crucial to keeping your eyes safe during prolonged periods of sun exposure. Your lenses should also meet ANSI Z80.3 blocking requirements and have UV 400 protection to help prevent the development of cataracts and macular degeneration. Your eyes always need protection from the sun, so don’t be afraid of wearing your sunglasses all year long. In fact, be afraid of NOT wearing your sunglasses all year long!
Eye Protection
As the days warm up, all those DIY home renovation projects that you’ve been meaning to start no longer have a decent weather-related excuse. When you make your way out to the backyard to lay some patio stones or put together a new deck, be sure to bring along appropriate eye protection. Guard your eyes with a pair of safety goggles and ensure that your next minor repair around the house won’t cost you something major – your vision.
Eye Healthy Diet
For most people, their favorite season isn’t summer – it’s barbecue season (which coincidentally occurs at the exact same time as summer). Firing up the grill usually means burgers and steak, but you can also take the opportunity to incorporate some crucial eye health nutrients in your diet. Barbecued salmon with a lemon zest can be a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C, which can enrich and revitalize your vision. Toss a kale and spinach salad as a side with some tomatoes and pumpkin seeds for a meal that both looks great and greatly improves your ability to look!
Quit Smoking
While the colder months might force smokers to rethink how badly they really want to step outside for a cigarette, it can be difficult for them to turn down a smoke break in the summer. Smoking can make the development of cataracts more likely and increase the possibility of macular degeneration and optic nerve damage. If you needed yet another reason to quit: think about your eyes!
How are you going to protect your eyes this summer? Share your tips with us, we’d love to hear them!
