Enjoy the Summer Sun, but Protect Your Peepers!

The sunshine is here to stay! It’s time to plant those petunias, take long walks in the neighborhood and enjoy lunch on the back deck. Your calendar is wide open, and you can’t wait to fill up those days with baseball games and outdoor concerts to soak in some sun.

To protect your vision and keep the tissues around your eyes healthy, here are some summer tips to protect those peepers:

Check the Clock
The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are most intense between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Try to avoid spending time in the direct sun during those hours, and enjoy your outdoor activities earlier in the morning or in the later afternoon and evening.

Buy a New Hat
Summer styles change each year, so buy a new hat that will protect your vision and make a fashion statement. The hats that provide the best protection against UV rays have a wide brim that will protect your face, ears and even your neck and shoulders.

Find Sunglasses You Love
It’s time to throw out that pair of sunglasses that are scratched up in the junk drawer and buy a new pair that you’ll look forward to wearing every day. Try something different like bright colored frames or a different lens shape. Whatever shape of lens you choose, go large! Big lenses offer more eye protection. One requirement should always stay the same, and that is a pair of sunglasses that offers 100 percent UV protection.

Apply Sunscreen Regularly
Wrinkles only look cute on dogs, so be generous with the sunscreen and remember to reapply often. Choose the correct sunscreen level for your skin tone, and don’t forget to check the expiration date of the product. If your sunscreen has expired, it is not providing the protective benefits that your skin needs. Throw it out and buy a new bottle (Source: Superior Vision).

Protecting your skin is easy, and you can show some style while you’re at it. Enjoy a fun-filled summer of all the outdoor activities you love most. Before you finish filling your calendar, set aside a day to have a comprehensive eye exam. Your ophthalmologist will test your vision, adjust your prescription and evaluate your eyes for several common diseases. An eye exam is an hour well-spent in the shade before going back out to play!