How to Keep Your Eyes Healthy This Summer

There is so much to love about summertime. Long, sunny days spent outdoors with our friends and family. But did you know that sun and ultraviolet light (UV) exposure not only affects your skin, but also your eyes?

Thankfully, sunglasses are a staple of summer style.

It doesn’t take a genius to know that wearing sunglasses helps protect your eyes from the sun. As soon as you step outside, UV rays can hit you from any direction. They radiate directly from the sun, but also reflect off the ground, water, snow, sand and other bright surfaces. To protect your eyes, The Canadian Ophthalmological Society recommends that you wear sunglasses that filter out 99 to100 per cent of UV light. To ensure you’re picking the right pair, look for a label with UVB and UVA protection.

Another important accessory to wear when outside or at the beach is a large hat that protects your face. A wide-brimmed hat or cap will block about half of UV rays. We recently went to Italy for a vacation and I packed two hats, four pairs of sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen. My eyes were protected, no sunburns, no tired eyes from squinting, and I didn’t need to worry about that direct, blinding sun while exploring.
Another perk of summer is the abundance of great food to eat, and diet is key for eye health. For example, carrots are one food you should be eating but there’s a handful of other foods to eat on a regular basis to promote healthy eyes. These foods have been proven to help prevent cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other sight woes.

• Eggs
• Fish
• Beef
• Water
• Leafy greens
• Citrus Fruits
• Nuts
• Legumes

What are some things that you do to keep your vision healthy during the warm summer months?

This post is sponsored by The Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) but all personal stories and opinions are my own.