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A new season is arriving, but we have some classic tips to keep your eyes in top shape while you take in the fresh sights around you.
The warmer weather means that you will inevitably spend more time outside. While you’re enjoying your favorite spring activities, make sure to keep your eyes protected from the sun’s UV rays that can make you more susceptible to eye conditions like macular degeneration and cataracts.
The best way to do this is to wear properly fitting sunglasses designed for UVA and UVB protection. Sunglasses with UV protection typically feature the code “uv400” printed somewhere on the product, meaning that they have been tested to block these harmful rays.
During springtime, many people face the sniffling and sneezing that comes from pollen allergies. It can also leave you dealing with dry, itchy eyes that can make your outdoor activities hard to do. Common allergy treatments like antihistamines have been shown to reduce your nasal congestion symptoms, but there is a catch. Certain brands of allergy medicine have the unintended side effect of dry eye, making the same condition you were looking to treat even worse.
Alternatively, you can consider treating your spring allergies with immunotherapy that builds up your tolerance to allergens like pollen and mold over time so that you eliminate all of your symptoms – including your itchy eyes.
The heat will pick up over the next few months, and you might even use it as an opportunity to work on your swimming skills. Whether you intend to go to the neighborhood pool or take the boat out over fresh water, it’s always important to consider how your eyes will be affected. Chlorine from pool water can leave your eyes red and irritated while fresh and salt water can be breeding grounds for bacterial infections.
One of your best remedies is to rely on a handy pair of goggles that secure firmly to your face. This will prevent most, if not all, of the water from contacting your eyes and keep you from experiencing eye infections or irritation.
Dr. Jeff Stetler, a CEENTA cornea specialist who practices out of our SouthPark office, extrapolates this point further beyond swimming. “Always be sure to wear eye protection when mowing the lawn or working outdoors in order to prevent eye injuries."
There’s one more thing you can do to ensure that your eyes are ready for spring: stopping by CEENTA. Whether it’s treatment for an eye infection, consultations on retina care, or even a routine eye exam, our board-certified physicians are available for your vision needs at nearly twenty offices in the Carolinas. Schedule with Dr. Stetler at our SouthPark location today through our online platform or through your myCEENTAchart account.
This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor. New patients can make appointments online with our eye doctors in North and South Carolina. Current patients can also make appointments through myCEENTAchart with physicians they have already seen.
Does hydration help?
Many people think the most important time to wear sunglasses is the middle of the day, when the sun is at its highest. But just as important is early morning and late afternoon, when the sun is potentially most damaging to your eyes.
CEENTA ophthalmologist Jeff Stetler, MD, appeared on WSOC's The Daily Two on March 26th, 2024 to discuss cornea health, conditions, and surgery.
