Summer sports
Watch out for those flying objects! There's a high risk for eye injury with several summer sports, such as badminton, tennis, baseball, even cycling. "There are a lot of non-prescription glasses geared for sports use that you can get at your optometrist's or optical shop," says Carew. "You can also get a lot of sports glasses with prescription lenses." The type of glasses to buy depends on the sports you play; variations include shockproof and wrap-around glasses. Ask for a professional recommendation about what would work best for you.
Chlorine
With more and more public pools being strictly regulated, over-chlorinated water isn't such an issue. Still, depending on the levels in the pool and how sensitive you are, your eyes can get quite irritated and the only thing to do is flush, flush, flush. "Tap water is a good option if you don't have saline on hand," says Carew. "It's definitely better than leaving irritants on your eye." If you wear contact lenses, use eye drops, not tap water, because water can lead to increased risk of infections.
Contact lenses
For contact lens wearers, summer eye care means you have to think about all the risks to your eyes mentioned above, in addition to making sure not to lose your lenses. "There is a 100 per cent chance of losing your contacts swimming in the ocean or a pool," warns Carew. Be sure to wear goggles, no matter how long you're in the water. As for protecting your eyes from the sun, contact-lens wearers may have an advantage: built-in UV protection. Carew suggests asking your optometrist whether your lenses have built-in UV protection, as some brands do.
By taking extra precautions with your eyes, along with your usual summer health care regime, you can prevent infections now, and more serious problems, like cataracts, down the road. Just pack your saline and goggles, and throw on your UV blocking shades and enjoy the great outdoors worry-free.
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