Experts warn that in summer, it is important to take care not only of your skin but also of your eye health. Dr. Arteaga advises avoiding sharing towels and rubbing your eyes with dirty hands. After swimming, you should wash your face with soap and water. Artificial tears can help keep your eyes lubricated. If you wear contact lenses, you should remove them before entering the water, as microorganisms can cause a corneal infection. It is also not recommended to wear lenses at the beach due to the combination of wind, sand, and sun. It is better to use prescription sunglasses. Children, who spend more time outdoors, are more susceptible to eye conditions. It is necessary to avoid exposure to the sun during peak hours and use hats and UV-filtering sunglasses from the age of 5 or 6. Half of our lifetime exposure to the sun occurs before the age of 16. Prolonged use of air conditioning can cause 'dry eye syndrome,' so it is recommended to keep the temperature between 21 and 25 degrees. Spending long hours in front of computer, smartphone, and TV screens can cause eye fatigue. For swimming or sports in a pool or at the beach, it is necessary to use water goggles or protective eyewear, some of which can even have the magnification a person needs. In summer, cases of viral conjunctivitis increase by up to 20%. The expert emphasizes the importance of awareness and hygiene for prevention. Diet is also important: it is recommended to include foods rich in vitamins A, E, C, and antioxidants, such as carrots, green leafy vegetables, cherries, and oranges, and Omega-3 fatty acids can also help protect against dry eye syndrome. Ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) rays are highly damaging to vision. Another commonly overlooked area is the skin of the eyelids, a frequent location for skin cancer. This is why it is important to protect yourself, as, like the skin, the eyes also have a memory if they have been excessively exposed to UV rays. To protect yourself from the effects of UVA and UVB radiation, it is essential to wear sunglasses. The color of the lens is not as important as having adequate UV protection. This means that darker glass does not necessarily offer more protection from the sun's risks. In fact, there are transparent sunglasses that have UV filters. Therefore, it is important to buy sunglasses from recognized opticians where it is guaranteed that the lens has a filter or where you can check with a professional if it truly has one.
