Protect your eyes this summer with these tips

This story first appeared in Healthy You - July 2024, The Gazette’s quarterly health publication.

It’s summer, and that means time outdoors for fun in the sun. Many of us put on sunscreen because we know the sun’s rays can damage our skin. But did you know the sun can also damage the sensitive and delicate tissues of our eyes?

According to Dr. Kara Heying of Cedar Rapids Eye Care, ultraviolet rays can damage different layers of the eyes.

“UVB rays damage the cornea and lens, while UVA can penetrate all the way back to the retina at the back of the eye and cause damage,” Heying said.

What does that damage mean for us? Just as the sun’s rays can age our skin, UVA and UVB can cause our eyes to age prematurely.

“As we age, the lens becomes less flexible, making it less able to shift from distance to close-up focus,” Heying explained. “Sunlight advances that damage.”

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Sun exposure is also linked to the development of cataracts in the lens. In addition, the sun can damage the surface of the eye by causing growths on the sclera, the white part of the eye.

But here’s the good news: we can protect our eyes by wearing UV-blocking sunglasses. Heying recommends buying sunglasses that are labeled “100% UV protection” or are listed as having a UV400 rating. If you don’t trust the label or want to check a pair of sunglasses you already own, take them to your eye doctor to be tested.

Children also need to wear sunglasses in summer.

“More damage is done to our eyes before the age of 18 than afterwards,” Heying said. “That’s because kids are outside so much of the time.”

Parents should find sunglasses that are comfortable and that their children will want to wear, making sure they are labeled as “100% UV protection.” It may be difficult to wear sunglasses while doing summer sports. But there are other options.

“These days, contact lenses can have UV protection,” Heying said, who frequently prescribes UV-blocking contact lenses for outdoor athletes.

Our eyes can use some protection from other summer activities as well. Professional lawn care companies require their workers to wear safety glasses or goggles when mowing or trimming, and homeowners should do the same.

“Any time you’re dealing with something that spreads particles that could land in your eye, you should use them,” Heying said. Organic material, like grass, leaves and mulch are particularly of concern.

Most of the damage to our eyes is done before the age of 18 because children spend so much time outside. Protect their eyes by having your children wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection, like these, available at Cedar Rapids Eye Care. (Jane Nesmith, for The Gazette)

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To make sure your sunglasses offer protection from damaging UV light, look for a “100% UV Protection” sticker. (Jane Nesmith/for The Gazette)

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“You don’t know what kinds of bacteria or other materials they might carry into your eyes,” she said. “If it gets in your eye, you could develop an infection.”

Regular glasses — or sunglasses — might give the illusion of protecting our eyes in these situations, but they aren’t quite enough. Safety glasses are larger to protect more of the eye area, and their lenses are made not to shatter, even if larger debris hits them.

If you do get something in your eye while outside, Heying recommends you rinse it out quickly with fresh water or saline solution. If you have to use your fingers, first make sure your hands are clean.

After yard work or on a sunny, hot day, you might decide to go for a swim. Wherever you take a dip — a chlorinated pool, a lake or a river — Heying recommends wearing swim goggles to protect your eyes.

“Exposure to chlorine won’t cause long-term damage to eyes, but it can make eyes red, irritated and teary,” she said. Avoid red eyes from chlorine by wearing goggles when you swim.

Swimming in lakes or ponds in Iowa can also be hard on the eyes. Organic matter and chemicals from farm run-off can cause irritation or even infections. So, use goggles when you swim anywhere.