Summer is one of my favorite times of the year. The longer days invite us to spend more time outside—whether that’s enjoying a walk, cheering on your child’s baseball game, relaxing by the lake, or taking a family vacation. While you’re remembering sunscreen, I encourage you to think about protecting your eyes, too.
As an optometrist, I often remind my patients that healthy vision doesn’t happen by chance. A few simple habits can go a long way toward protecting your eyesight now and for years to come.
Here are my top summer eye health tips.
Protect Your Eyes from UV Damage
Many people don’t realize that the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage your eyes just as they can damage your skin. Over time, too much UV exposure can increase your risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and other eye conditions.
Whenever you’re outdoors, I recommend wearing sunglasses that block 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. A wide-brimmed hat can also provide extra protection by reducing the amount of direct sunlight reaching your eyes. Kids need sunglasses, too! Their eyes are more sensitive to the sun’s harmful UV rays than adults’ eyes. In fact, a large portion of the UV damage our eyes receive happens between birth and age 18. Wearing sunglasses with 100% UV protection is an easy way to help keep a child’s eyes healthy now and for years to come.
Remember, UV rays don’t take a day off when it’s cloudy. They can also reflect off water, sand, and pavement, increasing your exposure even when you don’t feel the sun is especially strong.
If you’re shopping for sunglasses, don’t choose them based only on how they look. Quality UV protection is the most important feature.
Get Outside—It’s Good for Your Eyes
One of the best things about summer is the opportunity to spend more time outdoors. In addition to being great for your overall health, outdoor activities can benefit your vision—especially for children. Research continues to show that spending time outside may help support healthy visual development and may reduce the risk of children becoming nearsighted. Natural light and looking at objects in the distance give our eyes a healthy break from the close-up work we do on computers, tablets, and phones every day.
Whether you’re hiking, gardening, biking, or simply enjoying an evening walk, you’re doing something positive for both your body and your eyes.
Don’t Forget Eye Protection During Summer Sports
Summer is filled with sports and outdoor recreation, and unfortunately, it’s also a time when I see more eye injuries. Baseballs, tennis balls, pickleballs, fishing hooks, and even tree branches can cause serious damage in an instant.
The good news is that many eye injuries are preventable.
If you or your children participate in sports, I strongly recommend wearing protective eyewear made with impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses. Regular eyeglasses are not designed to protect your eyes during sports and can actually become a hazard if they break.
Protective eyewear is just as important as helmets and other safety equipment, and it can make all the difference in preventing a lifelong vision problem.
A Healthy Summer Starts with Healthy Vision
I want all of my patients to enjoy everything summer has to offer while protecting the gift of good vision. Wearing quality sunglasses, spending time outdoors, and using proper eye protection during sports are simple steps that can help keep your eyes healthy for years to come.
If it’s been a while since your last eye exam, summer is a wonderful time to schedule one.
Comprehensive eye exams allow us to monitor your vision, detect eye diseases early, and make sure your prescription is meeting your needs.
Thank you for trusting me and the team at Overlake Family Vision with your family’s eye care. It is truly a privilege to care for our community, and I wish you a safe, healthy, and fun-filled summer.
I look forward to seeing you at your next visit!
Warmly,
Dr. Mary Baker
Overlake Family Vision
