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Eye care tips to protect your eyes during summers

Chlorinated water can irritate your eyes. Wear swimming goggles every time you jump into the pool and wash your eyes with fresh clean water after swimming…reports Asian Lite News

It’s crucial to take care of your eyes as well as your skin as summer approaches. Due to their sensitivity, eyes can develop a number of disorders from prolonged exposure to the sun, dust, and pollution. Numerous eye issues, including corneal burns, retinal damage, chemical conjunctivitis, and corneal infections, are known to be brought on by hot weather, excessive UV exposure, and chlorinated water.

According to Dr. Vandana Jain, Regional Head – Clinical Services, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, Vashi, Mumbai, “Summer is the time when we enjoy the outdoors, but we often forget to take care of our eyes. Summers can be very challenging for our eyes, as excessive exposure to UV rays can cause cornea burns, retinal damage, and other eye problems. Also, spending too much time in air-conditioned environments can cause eye dryness, while chlorinated water in pools can lead to chemical conjunctivitis and corneal infections.

Moreover, the swinging temperature during summers can cause viral and allergic conjunctivitis, leading to eye discomfort and irritation. Therefore, it’s essential to take necessary precautions to protect your eyes from these potential threats during summers.

Dr Jain suggests the following eye care tips to protect your eyes during summers:

Wear Larger Sunglasses with 100 per cent UV Protection: Invest in sunglasses that provide full protection against harmful UV rays. Wraparound frames are the best as they give protection even from the sides.

Use Wide Brimmed Hat: In addition to sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat will give you additional protection from the sun.

Stay Hydrated: Drink at least two liters of water to prevent your skin and eyes from getting dehydrated.

Eye infections during summers and how to avoid them?.

Apply Sunscreen Carefully: While applying sunscreen, ensure that it does not get into your eyes as it can cause discomfort.

Avoid Mid-Day Sun: The sun is at its strongest between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and it’s best to stay indoors during these hours. If you must go out, don’t forget to wear sunglasses and a hat.

Protect Your Eyes in the Pool: Chlorinated water can irritate your eyes. Wear swimming goggles every time you jump into the pool and wash your eyes with fresh clean water after swimming.

Use Lubricating Eye Drops: The increased use of air conditioning can cause dryness in your eyes. Use preservative-free eye drops to give comfort to your eyes.

Wear Protective Eye Gear: During outdoor activities, always wear protective eye gear to prevent eye injuries from flying debris.

Dr Vandana adds, “These simple eye care tips will help you enjoy summers without any eye problems. Remember, prevention is better than cure, therefore, scheduling regular eye check-ups to detect and treat eye problems early is very important. Also, people should avoid smoking, as it can increase the risk of various eye problems, including cataracts and macular degeneration. So, this summer, protect your eyes and enjoy the outdoors with caution.

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Never do these to your eyes

Rubbing your eyes all day can also cause some damage to your sight. Rubbing the eyes can break blood vessels present under your eyelids. When the eyes are irritated, instead of rubbing the eyes, try applying a cold compress instead…writes DR. RISHI RAJ BORAH

There are about 2.2 billion people globally with near or distant vision impairment, according to a 2021 report by the World Health Organisation (WHO). India is the second-most populous country in the world and home to over 20 per cent of the world’s blind population. Addressing visual impairment is a major health issue across the globe, and while a number of factors are responsible for poor vision, including age, genetics, and the environment, everyday habits are just as important. There are indications that daily habits can affect a person’s eyesight and develop into further complications if not addressed in time.

What are these habits?

Too much screen time: Working for long hours, especially on a computer has become a reality for many people around the world. The pandemic and the work-from-home culture meant that people have to work virtually for long hours every day. Such a lifestyle can inevitably cause significant strain on your eyes and lead to eye-related problems if not properly checked. A condition often associated with this is “screen-sightedness” or computer vision syndrome. The 20-20-20 technique is a simple yet effective way to take frequent breaks to reduce the stress on your due to extended use of digital devices. Spend at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes looking at something 20 feet away.

Eating eye health-deficient diet: Including foods containing omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, vitamins C and E, and dark leafy greens, nuts, eggs, oranges, and seafood can help maintain eye health.

Not resting enough: Lack of sleep, especially when it happens on a regular basis, can have many negative effects on our health, both short-term and long-term, including a weakened immune system, weight gain, heart disease, high blood pressure, mood changes, and memory issues. It also affects the health of our eyes significantly. Not resting enough can manifest in bloodshot eyes, dark circles, blurred vision, dry eyes, and other conditions. According to research, the eyes need about 7 to 9 hours of good sleep daily to replenish themselves and function well.

Rubbing your eyes all day can also cause some damage to your sight. Rubbing the eyes can break blood vessels present under your eyelids. When the eyes are irritated, instead of rubbing the eyes, try applying a cold compress instead.

Is your eyesight deteriorating.

Not wearing sunglasses can also have harmful effects on your eyes. Our eyes are vulnerable to ultraviolet rays and weather elements which can affect the health of our vision in numerous ways. Wearing the right sunglasses on a regular basis can prevent the development of macular degeneration or cataracts. Beyond that, sunglasses also help protect against dry-eye syndrome by blocking the wind and dust that could gain access to your eyes.

Staying dehydrated. Water is essential for the body to help maintain hydration. Our eyes rely on water to help keep them lubricated in the form of tears. It is quite normal for dust, dirt, and other debris present in the air to sneak into our eyes. In the absence of moisture, one may develop dry, red, or puffy eyes. Thus, it is important to stay hydrated by consuming plenty of water every day.

Moreover, regular eye check-ups are essential for the timely identification and treatment of visual ailments.

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