As the weather gets warmer, all the summer-lovers are waking up and rubbing their eyes from a long winter of hibernation. Let’s talk about how you can take care of those eyes as we go into the next season.

Springtime poses a number of risks that can affect your eye health. Dealing with eye injuries and diseases can be expensive, inconvenient, and painful, so it’s nice to know the little ways you can be proactive about eye care. Here are 6 tips about improving eye care and protection during spring.

Hydrate

While the sun isn’t as hot as it will be, now is a great time to recommit to hydration. When your body is properly hydrated, your eyes can produce the correct volume of tears and prevent dry eyes. The recommended amount of water is two liters a day. That’s a lot, but getting into a habit of drinking a little throughout the day can make it less daunting. Staying hydrated flushes extra salts and toxins out of the body which helps your eyes stay moisturized and protected against foreign objects and dust.

Spring Cleaning

Springtime is a great time to tidy up for a number of reasons, but one of them is your eye health. Removing the dust, dirt, and debris that has built up during the long winter will help maintain clear air in your home. This provides less irritants for your eyes, and helps prevent dry eyes as well. When you are cleaning, make sure that your house is well ventilated so that debris can exit the building and not simply accumulate in the air. 

Purify the Air

Springtime is the season of allergens. These can make your eyes swell, water, and sting, inviting you to touch and rub them, which invites more bacteria and debris into your eyes. Using an air purifier in your house can filter out the pollen and dust that makes its way in from the blossoming world outside. This provides comfort and safety for your eyes.

Avoid Smoke

Warm weather brings a wealth of fun activities like bonfires, fireworks, and barbeques. However, the increased exposure to bright light and smoke can pose some danger for your eyes. When participating in these activities, wear appropriate eye protection, stay away from smoke when possible, and hydrate your eyes using eye drops when they feel dry or irritated.

Use Shades

During the sunny seasons, people spend more time outdoors soaking up the rays. It is more important than ever to use proper eye protection when spending extended periods in the sun. Use sunglasses when you are hiking, swimming, or at a park. These protect your eyes from harmful UVA and UVB rays. It seems like a little thing, but it can make a big impact in prolonging your eye health.

Opt for Glasses

When you plan to spend long periods of time outside, use glasses instead of contacts. Contacts can collect dirt and pollen which is then held against your eye by the contact. This can irritate and even damage your eyes. It can also tempt you to touch your eyes in an attempt to remove debris with your hands, which have hopefully been playing in the great outdoors, but which transfer more dirt and bacteria into your eye. By using glasses, you increase protection from debris in the air, UV rays, and you lessen the impulse to touch your eyes.