Keeping an Eye on San Antonio Summer Safety Tips
Are you ready for some fun this summer? With all the sunshine and great attractions to go, see and explore, San Antonio has a lot to offer. Keeping your eyes healthy and your good vision protected is important to make sure you get the most out of your summer adventures, so we put together a list of safety tips to help:
Start with UV Protection for Your Eyes
Just like your skin, your eyes need sun protection because they can suffer from sun damage too. Exposure to UV radiation from the sun has been linked to eye problems that can threaten your vision including cataracts and macular degeneration. Be sure your sunglasses offer 100% UVA and UVB protection – look for a label that says UV400 to confirm, your optometrist help prescribe and verify that you are choosing the right pair. Wrap-around frames offer the most coverage – and they look good to boot! Even if your contact lenses have UV blocking technology, it is always a good idea to wear UV protecting sunglasses. Had LASIK? You want to protect that investment in great vision with quality sunglasses.
You should boost the level of sun protection for your eyes when you are going to be outside for long periods of time – like at the beach or Six Flags San Antonio. Put on a hat with your glasses. Also, don’t put away your sunglasses just because it is overcast – UV rays can still cause damage on cloud days.
Eye Safety in the Water
Splashing around in the water is a big part of summertime fun. Here in San Antonio – we like to beat the heat with a fun day floating down the Guadalupe or hanging out by the Riverwalk. Whether it’s a pool, river or lake or ocean, swimming can cause problems for your eyes. Swimming pools rely on chlorine to keep them clean, but that chemical can be very irritating to your eyes. The result is red, swollen eyes that sting – symptoms that may lead to conjunctivitis. Be aware of water quality wherever you are, because exposure to bacteria from contaminated rivers, lakes, ponds or the ocean can lead to serious eye infections. You can get fitted with eye goggles to help protect your eyes, but they only work if you wear them! Prescription goggles and sunglasses can be expensive, but necessary to protect your eyes.
Celebrate the 4th Safely
Did you know there are nearly 2,000 eye injuries every year from fireworks here in the U.S.? Most of those accidents happen when folks light up sparklers, roman candles, bottle rockets and other explosives at home. We recommend heading out to the Freedom Fest at Market Square and enjoy a professional firework display at one of the local theme parks in comfort and safety
Remember Your Glasses and Contact Lens Supplies
Planning a trip? Summer is a popular time to travel. Seeing the sights and exploring is best done with great vision! Make sure you don’t miss out on anything by making sure you have your prescription glasses and sunglasses – and even a back-up pair just in case. Wearing contacts? Pack extra solution, drops and a fresh case. If you are wearing daily disposables, make sure you have more than enough on hand for the length of your trip. Particularly if you are headed somewhere with questionable water quality, you will want extra contacts on hand in case you accidentally expose your eyes to contaminated water. Consider bringing a copy of your prescription along just in case. If hauling all your supplies with you on your trip has you re-evaluating your choice of vision correction, take some time to have a discussion with your eye doctor about your options. Having great vision at the ready makes travel that much more enjoyable, and convenient. Laser vision correction procedures, like LASIK, can give you the vision you want without relying on glasses and contacts.
Because summer is the season for heading out and having some adventures, often people start to think about LASIK as a better option than their glasses and contacts for better vision. If you are wondering if laser vision correction might be better for your lifestyle, the first step is to have a thorough evaluation to see if you are a good candidate for one of the modern procedure choices. We are here to help you find out what is best for you and your vision.
Be sure to talk to one of our doctors about not only the benefits of LASIK, but also any risks of LASIK that may pertain to your individual needs and circumstances.