Ready, set, travel – your summer eye care essentials

Barbecues in the yard. Long days on the beach. Warm, carefree evenings that feel like they go on forever. Who doesn’t love the summer?

To make the most of it all, it’s important to look after your eyes. Because even the sunniest of summer days can be spoiled by uncomfortable, irritated eyes.

We’ve got your back with our ultimate guide to summer eye care. Follow these simple, expert tips this year, and you can kick back, relax, and focus on the good times without worry.

Feel the urge for DIY? Don’t forget eye protection

When you’re getting stuck into a DIY job at home, it’s all too easy to think, “It’ll be okay” when it comes to not wearing eye protection – but is it worth the risk? Dust, debris, and sharp objects can all end up in your eyes, potentially causing irritation and long-lasting damage.

Always take the extra minute to pull your goggles out of the garage and put them on. Your eyesight is precious, but if you’re not cautious, it can be irreversibly damaged in a moment.

Careful with sunscreen around your eyes

Sunscreen is wonderful for protecting your skin, but it contains irritants that can cause uncomfortable eyes if it gets into them. Be extra careful when applying sunscreen around your eyes and wash your hands thoroughly after you’ve used it.

Watch out for dry eye

Dry eye is a condition where your eyes don’t create enough moisture, and your tear film becomes too dry due to the lack or quality of tears you produce. It’s more common in the summer than people think because it can be made worse by air conditioning and increased time spent outdoors in hot, dry weather, leaving your eyes feeling red, dry, itchy, and sore.

Wearing wrap-around sunglasses will protect your eyes from wind and cold air blowing from air conditioning units, helping minimize your chance of getting dry eye.

If you don’t have a pair yet, don’t worry – we’ve got a wide range of stylish wrap-around sunglasses for you to choose from.

Eye drops can also help alleviate the symptoms of dry eye. They add moisture to the eye and reduce that itchy, gritty sensation. It’s always handy to keep a bottle in your beach bag, just in case.

Pack your polarized sunglasses

Whether you’re playing a game of soccer in the park, lounging by the pool, or hitting the highway for a road trip, horizontal glare from the sun can seriously curtail your experience. It makes it hard to see properly, causing your eyes to squint and strain to attempt to see past it. Shiny and wet surfaces, such as the poolside or the ocean, enhance this glare and when it comes to driving, it can be truly dangerous.

Polarized sunglasses will eliminate that glare, giving your eyes a break and allowing you to enjoy your time outdoors. Your eyes and skin will thank you in the long run, too: repeated eye strain can lead to eyesight problems later on, and squinting accelerates the development of wrinkles around your eyes. Luckily for you, we stock a wide range of polarized lenses for you to get your hands on this summer.

Don’t forget your goggles

Swimming pools usually contain chlorine and other chemicals to keep them clean. Although chlorine kills germs and keeps us safe from bugs, it’s not so great for your eyes. The water can easily irritate them, leaving you with red and sore eyes for a day or two afterward. It’s not a great look, and it feels unpleasant, too.

The solution is simple. Pack a pair of goggles and wear them if you’re swimming and you’re likely to put your face in the water or have water splashed in your eyes.

Double up on protection with a hat

If you’re out in the sun for any length of time, double up on protection with a wide-brimmed hat or baseball cap. A hat will protect your eyes from the sun’s glare, particularly when it’s at its hottest and highest in the sky. It’s low-tech, but trust us, it works.

Don’t forget sun hats for the kids, either. Make packing a bunch of hats part of your holiday family eye care routine. Hats can protect your little ones from excessive heat and potential heat stroke, too.

Don’t let sand get in your eyes

Sand is wonderful when it’s where it should be – on the beach. As soon as it gets in your clothes or – even worse – in your eyes, it becomes a complete pain.

Sand is abrasive (just think of sandpaper), and if it finds its way into your eye, it will irritate the surface. Your eyes are lubricated, and as you blink, the sand will move over the surface, scratching as it goes and giving you corneal abrasions.

Our advice? Always wash your hands and make sure they’re free of sand before putting them anywhere near your eyes.

Drink plenty of water

Staying hydrated is crucial in hot weather for general health and well-being, and it also benefits your eyes. Your eyes rely on moisture to lubricate them and function properly, and dehydration can exacerbate symptoms of conditions such as dry eye.

The standard advice is to drink 8 cups of water per day, but that will vary between individuals and depend on whether you’re doing physical activity. It’s also a good idea to eat plenty of water-rich foods, such as cucumber, watermelon, and other fruits.

That’s a wrap!

There you have it. Our top eye health tips for looking after your eyes. Tick them all off and you’ll be able to enjoy your summer vacation safe in the knowledge that your eye health is taken care of.

We’ve got a wide range of polarized and wrap-around sunglasses for you to choose from that are both stylish and functional. Just because you’re sensible enough to look after your eyes in the summer sun doesn’t mean you can’t look great too. If you need any help with your order, just drop us a line at info@replacementlensexpress.com. When it comes to our customers, we’re always happy to help!