Summer Eye Safety Tips

It has taken many years for the American public to understand the dangers of excessive sun exposure  skin cancer, cataracts, retinal damage and/or weakened immune systems. You can’t change your medical or your family history, but you can take control by finding out how to protect yourself by reading literature, checking the Internet, but more importantly, talking with your eye care and health care professionals. Here are a few tips for an eye-safe summer:

• Eye protection should be worn while engaging in hazardous activities, on the job, pursuing hobbies at home or working on home improve- ment projects or working in the yard. Check into the wrap-around “safety” goggles made of polycarbonate — not “impact resistant.” Also it is suggested to wear safety goggles over prescription glasses and to wear nonprescription safety goggles over contact lenses.

• What did my doctors  tell me? “Be careful!”

  Wear wide-brimmed hats or baseballs caps to protect your eyes and your face.

 

• When applying SPF (regular or waterproof and/or water resistant) sunscreen, use caution in applying careful not to put it too close to the eyes and surrounding soft tissues — sunscreen could drip into the eye.

 

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  Invest in a close-fitting pair of sunglasses with large lenses or wraparounds that block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Choose medium to darker lenses with even shading.

 

• If you wear contacts, check for 99 to 100 per cent UVA and UVB protection. If little or no protection is available, ask your eye care professional about wearing prescription sunglasses instead of contacts or quality plano lenses over contacts.

The ISPB wishes you an eye-safe summer!

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The Visionary, published as a service of the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness,
is available upon request. The information contained in this issue,
taken from sources considered to be accurate,
does not replace the need for professional eye care consultations and treatments.

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