Health

A summer without Squinting

As it gets warmer, taking extra-precautionary care of our skin is important. After being wrapped in woollens all winter, unveiling yourself to UV rays of the summer sun can be an ill-advised move without the appropriate protection. However, SPF is now in most facial moisturisers, and holidays can be booked with quickly followed trips to the shops to stack up on sun screen, of which there is much to choose from.

Much of consumer concern is cosmetic with a primary concern being the risk of wrinkles and premature ageing. However, the sun’s harmful rays go skin deep.

It’s incredibly easy to overlook the protection of our eyes and all-too-often we sit squinting in the sun, unaware of the long-term damage it is having on the skin around it. This area of skin is the thinnest on the face, like a sheet of paper, and outdoor wear-and-tear can speed up the appearance of crows-feet and lines.

Wearing sunglasses is a highly recommended thing to do; it prevents all kinds of damage not only to the tender skin around the eyes, but to the eye itself. Photokeratis, is sunburn of the cornea, which worryingly can result in a temporary loss of vision.

The most common environment to suffer sun damage is on the beach, because sunlight reflects off the sea and sand, increasing exposure to UV radiation. Wearing glasses will be the most effective and preventative way of reducing such a risk.

You can get prescriptive sunglasses now, so you don’t need your contact lenses on the beach, which can keep sand and dirt at bay. However, by night, you may not want to wear glasses and opt for contact lenses, which can tend to be sore on sensitive eyes. Thankfully, there are still ways to keep your eyes hydrated and bright. The company Vision Direct not only sells contact lenses, but soothing cucumber pads to refresh and calm the eye-area. Also, there are supplements and nutrients specifically targeted at the eye to prevent premature ageing, and future eye-disease. Check the Vision Direct website for more information on their contact lenses.

The key to eye health is to keep your peepers in the shade when it’s sunny and to enhance their growth and development with supportive aids, like vitamins, dietary supplements, and to not squint at the sun. This will give you wrinkles, not to mention a headache.