PROTECTING YOUR EYES

AT THE BEACHHARGRAVE EYE CENTERBY DR. SYLVIA HARGRAVE

YOUR EYES AND THE BEACH

IT'S SUMMER, AND THAT MEANS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WILL BE FLOCKING TO BEACHES FROM MAINE TO CALIFORNIA. YOU MAY HAVE A CHECKLIST OF ITEMS TO HAVE A GOOD TIME, LIKE SUNSCREEN AND FLIP FLOPS, BUT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR EYES WHEN YOU PACK A BAG AND HEAD TO THE SHORE?

THE BEACH CAN ACTUALLY PRESENT UNIQUE DANGERS FOR YOUR EYES, SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE PREPARED. THE NEXT TIME YOU PACK THE CAR AND HEAD TO THE OCEAN, DON'T FORGET THESE TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR EYES AT THE BEACH! 

DON'T STARE AT THE SUN

STARING DIRECTLY AT THE SUN CAN DAMAGE YOUR EYES BY INCREASING YOUR EXPOSURE TO UV RADIATION, WHICH CAN CAUSE CANCER. AVOID STARING AT THE SUN AND BE SURE TO PROTECT YOURSELF BY WEARING SUNGLASSES THAT BLOCK 99-100% OF UV LIGHT AS WELL AS APPLYING SUNSCREEN AROUND YOUR EYES.

01

ALWAYS WEAR SUNGLASSES 

EVEN ON A CLOUDY DAY, YOU ARE STILL BEING EXPOSED TO UV LIGHT, WHICH CAN FILTER THROUGH CLOUDS. AS A RESULT, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS WEAR SUNGLASSES THAT ARE UP TO 100% UV RESISTANT TO GUARD YOUR EYES AGAINST THIS DANGEROUS RADIATION; SUNGLASSES THAT FULLY WRAP AROUND YOUR EYES ARE PREFERABLE.

02

WHEN YOU SWIM, DON'T WEAR

CONTACTS OR OPEN YOUR EYES

WEARING CONTACTS WHILE YOU SWIN CAN CAUSE THE LENSES TO DISTORT AND ALSO HOLD WATER AGAINST YOUR EYES. AND SINCE THE SALT WATER OF THE OCEAN, WHICH IS NOT SANITARY, WILL BURN YOUR EYES, BE SURE TO REMOVE YOUR CONTACT LENSES BEFORE SWIMMING AND KEEP YOUR EYES CLOSED WHILE UNDERWATER.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO OPEN YOUR EYES UNDER THE SEA, THEN WEAR GOGGLES OR OTHER PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR. 

03

DON'T RUB SAND IN YOUR EYES

GENERALLY SPEAKING, RUBBING YOUR EYES CAN BRING GERMS FROM YOUR HANDS INTO YOUR EYES AND LEAD TO INFECTION. HOWEVER, AT THE BEACH, RUBBING YOUR EYES TO TRY AND GET SAND OUT OF THEM CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE CORNEAL ABRASION, SO USE SANITARY WATER OR EYEDROPS TO FLUSH OUT SAND.

04

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HARGRAVEEYECENTER.NET!

THANKS FOR WATCHING!