Look out for your eyesight this summer
It’s not just your skin you need to protect in the sun – UV exposure can damage your eyes too. Here optometrist FRANCESCA MARCHETTI reveals how you can protect your vision
JUST AS IT can affect your skin, ultraviolet (UV) light can affect your eyes as well, and it’s one of the biggest risks to our vision. UV can damage the cornea – the delicate, clear surface of the eye – as well as the skin around the eyes.
Known to be a catalyst towards developing cataracts, UV can also cause macular degeneration which can cause blurred, or loss of, central vision and can also lead to melanomas forming at the back of the eye.
Short, intense exposure can also cause photokeratitis, an inflammation of the cornea, almost like sunburn.This tends to occur more in snow, but white sand and water reflections have the same effect.
Additionally, pool chemicals can affect the natural tear film, in what’s known as “swimmer’s eye”, which is why you end up with sore, red eyes when you’ve been in a chlorinated pool.
But there are simple steps you can take to keep your eyes healthy for summer and beyond.
ARE YOUR SHADES UP TO SCRATCH?
Obviously, you can’t apply suntan lotion to your eyes, so you must protect them with sunglasses – this is non-negotiable.
Always look for the European CE mark or British Standard BS 2724, and preferably they should provide UV400 protection (which means they absorb all UV light).
Fake sunglasses have fake markings, so don’t be tempted by those cheap Ray-Bans on sale at the beach – buy from a reputable retailer. Go as dark as you like, and make sure they’re big enough to protect the eye.
If you wear prescription glasses, then you also need prescription sunglasses – or clip-ons, if you prefer. Photochromic lenses – the ones that change with the light – can be good, but they’re not much use when driving, because modern car windscreens filter out the UV light needed to activate them.
If it’s bright and sunny, or you feel the need to put on SPF, you should be wearing sunglasses – and that applies whatever age you are.
If you can’t get a child to wear sunglasses, then it’s really important that they’re wearing a hat with a peak that shades their eyes.
BE SMART
Don’t look directly at the sun, and certainly don’t look at it through a telescope or binoculars – you could burn your retina. If you suffer from hay fever, it’s important to take your medication to stop your eyes getting sore, itchy and dry. A lot of antihistamine eye drops aren’t suitable for use with contact lenses, so check first.
Don’t forget to apply sun cream around the eye and on the eyelid – the eyelid is one of the most common sites for skin cancer, because it’s so often forgotten.
SWIM SAFE
If you’ve sensitive eyes that are prone to going red and feeling uncomfortable when swimming, use a preservative-free lubricant to rinse them out afterwards. These are often called artificial teardrops, but ensure they’re preservative-free to minimise the risk of irritation.
Wearing contact lenses for swimming – whether in chlorinated pools, freshwater lakes, rivers or the sea – for any length of time, is a big no. There are too many bugs in all kinds of water that can end up in contact lenses.
Usually, your own natural tears would wash
them out, but if you’re wearing lenses those bacteria stick around and breed on the lens – and you really don’t want that.
If you really can’t see anything without yours, it may be worth considering prescription swimming goggles.
GET A CHECK-UP
Have an eye examination every two years, unless specified by your eye-care practitioner to have them more frequently. They can catch potential problems early.You can start taking children from the age of two-and-a-half.
People take their kids to the dentist at a really young age, but often don’t think about taking them to the optician. Bear in mind that eye tests carried out in schools are screenings, rather than a full eye examination.
Staying on top of issues caused by hormonal changes – menopause, pregnancy and puberty – is also about early detection.
However, most hormonal issues are related to dry eyes.
A preservative-free lubricant is your best bet.
BOOST YOUR DIET
Regularly include oily fish with high omega-3 fish oils in your diet, because they support our tear structure, helping to combat dry eyes. Dark green leafy vegetables and brightly coloured fruits contain vegetable nitrates and carotenoids that help protect the macula, the most sensitive spot on the retina.
A lot of us don’t eat enough fresh fruit and veg (your five-a-day should be seen as a minimum target, not a maximum), so consider a supplement with the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, as they help protect the macula – try Holland & Barrett Lutigold Extra 20mg (£12.99 for 30 capsules; hollandandbarrett.com).
REGULARLY CLEAN OUT YOUR MAKE-UP BAG
Still using the same mascara you did on New Year’s Eve? It’s definitely time to bin it. Change your mascara every three months, don’t share make-up and never sleep with it on. If you do, it can block up the hair follicles in the tear glands and give rise to a condition known as blepharitis.
While powder shadows and liners tend to be less problematic, wet products such as mascara and liquid eyeliner are the worst culprits for breeding bacteria – and this becomes a bigger problem in the summer.
A good idea is to date these when you open them and find yourself a good, low-cost, high street mascara, so you’ll be happy to throw it away. People who buy expensive mascaras from designer brands end up being the ones who experience the most eye infections.
LOOK AT YOUR LIFESTYLE
You’re four times more likely to develop macular degeneration if you’re a smoker. A lot of smokers are given the risks of heart disease and lung disease, but they’re not usually told it creates issues for eyes.
Studies also indicate that being obese puts a strain on the cardiovascular system, which can cause problems with vision, including glaucoma.