Too much time in the sun can pose potential hazards to eye safety. Baylor College of Medicine ophthalmologist Dr. Masih Ahmed urges everyone to protect their eyes outdoors.
Sunglasses
Ultraviolet (UV) rays are harmful to the eye. They can lead to vision loss, early cataracts, eyelid cancer or macular degeneration, according to Dr. Ahmed.
His advice is to make sure the lenses in your sunglasses are 100% UV blocking, ideally wrapping around the face to avoid light protruding from the sides.
Polarized lenses block the direction of light, cutting the glare, but aren’t necessary for eye safety. Polarized lenses can be helpful with water activities like sailing and fishing.
Swimming goggles
Ahmed also recommends wearing shaded goggles for swimming, especially when putting your head underwater. Water where you swim can contain contaminants that can lead to eye infection. Watertight goggles shield the eyes from bacteria and save you from complications.
Contact lenses
Refrain from wearing contact lenses underwater. Contact lenses absorb water and hold on harmful microorganisms close to your eye and can cause infection.
Dr. Ahmed said contacts cause micro-abrasions in the eye, which facilitate eye infections. While there are no specific contact lenses safe for water, prescription goggles are available. If you must wear contacts while swimming, wear daily, disposable contacts so you can dispose of them right after getting out of the water.
“In the summer, we see an uptick in people who wear contacts coming in with eye infections. They can trap water underneath them, and that water might have bacteria and amoeba that cause infection in the eye,” Ahmed said.
Price
The good news is, price doesn’t matter.
Dr. Ahmed said you can get good, quality protection even with cheap sunglasses, as long as they say they’ll protect you from UV light.
Prescription glasses from online retailers, he said, can also give provide glasses at a discount.