Spending time in the sun certainly comes with lots of benefits. In addition to boosting your vitamin D, you'll get fresh air and enjoy a surge of happy hormones. While experiencing all these benefits, it's important to make sure you're taking care of your eyes. Here are some ways to do so.
Avoid the Midday Sun
Peak sunshine periods usually occur between 11:00 and 15:00. During this time, the sun's UV rays are at their strongest. When you expose your eyes to UV rays, you're increasing your risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. If spending time in the midday sun is unavoidable, make sure you wear large sunglasses that offer strong UV protection. You may also want to stay away from water and other surfaces that reflect and enhance the sun's rays.
Maximise Your Eye Protection
Wearing sunglasses alone isn't always enough to protect your eyes against UV rays. Try wearing a sunhat with a large brim so that you benefit from shade. Additionally, focus on sunglasses that have polarised lenses. Polarised lenses deflect the sun's glare, which further reduces your risk of harm. If you're going to spend a lot of time outdoors, consider using wraparound shades as they'll reduce the amount of sun that can affect your eyes from the side.
Stow Extra Pairs of Glasses
When you're leading a busy lifestyle, it's sometimes difficult to remember to take all of life's essentials everywhere with you. Sunglasses are small items, which means they're easy to forget. One way to overcome this problem is by stowing extra pairs in places such as your bag and the glove box of your car. When you do so, make sure you keep them in their case so they're less likely to encounter any damage.
Stay Well Hydrated
Dehydration affects every area of your body and that includes your eyes. At the very least, suffering from dry eye can feel uncomfortable. Without adequate lubrication, your eyes can feel itchy, which means you're more likely to introduce bacteria or injury to them through scratching. At the more severe end of the scale, repeated bouts of dry eye can result in ulcers and damage to the cornea. To make sure you stay hydrated, consume water throughout the day and avoid dehydrating substances such as alcohol and caffeine. If you find that your eyes become dry despite your efforts, you may need to see an optometrist so they can prescribe an external lubricant. Reach out to an eye care professional to learn more.
