3 Ways to Keep Your Eyes Safe at the Beach
If you're worried about your family getting eye damage from all the time they spend on digital screens, regular days out to the beach may sound like a good idea. While the beach is definitely a great, natural place to spend an afternoon, it comes with its own eye hazards that you need to watch out for. Here are 3 tips for keeping your family's eyes healthy by the seaside:
Sun
Just as the sun can be bad for your skin, it can be bad for your eyes too. Exposure to the sun's UV rays has been linked to a variety of eye problems, including photokeratitis (which occurs when your corneas are 'sunburned' and can cause temporary vision loss) and cataracts. Unsurprisingly, the best way to protect your eyes from the sun when you're having fun at the beach is with sunglasses. Aside from being a fashion accessory that keeps your eyes comfortable, good sunglasses filter out UV rays to keep your eyes safe. Wraparound sunglasses are best, especially for children, whose eyes are more susceptible to UV damage. If you prefer other styles, consider combining them with a wide-brimmed hat to keep more sunlight away from your eyes. Remember, if you need to wear corrective lenses, you can schedule regular eye exams with your optometrist to get your own prescription sunglasses that fulfill both needs.
Sand
At first glance, sand seems to be more of a nuisance than a danger. However, when it gets in your eyes, sand can definitely be a real problem. If you or your children get sand in their eyes at the beach, they could scratch their corneas. While mild scratches often heal in a few days, deeper scratches could cause permanent eye damage. As with the sun, sunglasses are one of the best ways to protect eyes from sand. If you or your child do get sand in your eyes, resist the urge to rub it away as this will simply rub the sharp grains deeper into the eye surface. Instead, take some saline solution to the beach with you and rinse the sand out of the eye. You may need to remove any contact lenses to flush it all out. If you see any signs of corneal scratches (such as pain, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light), get to an eye doctor immediately to ensure no permanent damage occurs.
Sea
Since saline can clean your eyes and the human body produces salty tears, it stands to reason that sea water is perfectly safe for eyes too, right? Unfortunately, this isn't the case. First of all, sea water contains much more salt than bodily or medical fluids. A medical saline solution contains 0.9% sodium chloride, similar to tears, while the ocean is 3.5% salt. Aside from the salinity factor, sea water also isn't sterile. It contains a whole host of bacteria and microorganisms. Both the bacteria and the high salt content can quickly lead to irritation of and around the eye, which may persist even after you leave the beach. If you and your family will be splashing or swimming, it's a good idea to don UV-protective goggles or swimming masks while you're in the ocean. Once you leave the sea, rinse your faces with bottled water or a nearby tap to flush away any sea water that could cause redness and discomfort.
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