Summer is around the corner, and one can feel the heat of the scorching Delhi sun already. Summer in North India is indeed hot and cruel, the long hot and often humid summer days, and the even more uncomfortable sultry, hot evenings in the capital leave us all dehydrated and exhausted. The heat, and the air conditioning, all take a toll on the yes as well, which tend to get dry and sore. Here are some tips on how to prevent dry eyes during summer months.
Protect your eyes: Wear sunglasses
Sunglasses are the most obvious way to protect your eyes from the blazing Delhi sun. Just as you use a sunscreen with adequate SPF, you must use sunglasses which offer appropriate UV protection (100% UV-A and UV-B block). In fact, sunglasses not only keep the eyes comfortable, reducing glare and the ferocity of the sunlight, cutting out UV rays protects your eyes from potentially vision threatening diseases like Age related Macular Degeneration also. The sunglasses will also protect you during the “loo”, the hot and dusty winds of the Northern plains, from irritating allergies to particles in the eyes.
For added protection consider wearing a hat or a scarf, it will save your face and your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun.
Use swimming goggles
The water in swimming pools is full of chlorine, which protects you from germs and infections, but can actually hurt your eyes by causing allergic reactions, soreness, as well as red and dry eyes. The simplest solution for is to wear swimming goggles, which help you swim without being exposed to the harmful chemicals. If you are visiting the beach during the summer months, use it also when swimming in the sea to protect your eyes from the salt water, and if you are swimming in rivers and streams, from the pollutants as well.
Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes
Often the summer heat means fatigue and tired eyes. You must refrain from rubbing your eyes, as most eye infections are fomite-borne, that is, spread from one to the other by transfer through a vehicle like hands, shared towels etcetera. This is especially true for conjunctivitis which sees a sudden surge in summer months and in the rainy season that follows. It is therefore essential to wash your hands often, and avoid touching your eyes.
This is especially true if you have had any eye surgery such as LASIK, cataract surgery or glaucoma surgery, since your eyes may be more prone to infections.
Use lubricating eye drops
Over exposure to the sun, air conditioning and the heat all contribute to making your eyes drier over the summer months. In case your eyes feel sore, itchy and dry, you can use over the counter tear drops. These eye drops are freely available with chemists, and you must ask for a reliable brand, and for eye drops that are preservative free. Refrain from using “ayurvedic” eye drops unless prescribed by a doctor of that discipline, and avoid all steroid eye drops. In case your dry eye problem persists, seek help from your eye doctor immediately. You may also use a humidifier when using air conditioning, in order to decrease discomfort due to dry eyes.
Eat healthy and drink plenty of water
This is good advice for all seasons, but especially true for the long summer months. Make sure you are adequately hydrated and have plenty of water and other fluids. You must try to eat healthy, with plenty of fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, with adequate daily intake of vitamin A, C, E and most importantly, omega-3 fatty acids.
Ensure Proper Rest
You must ensure you get proper rest during the summer months, and get adequate sleep so as to maintain a healthy lifestyle. In addition, try and cut down on your screen time, that is, time with all screen devices like television, computers and phones, to ensure better eye health.
and phones, to ensure better eye health.