Common Summer Eye Problems in Texas

Summer is the perfect time to get outside and explore with the family. You probably take extra precautions during this season by applying (and reapplying) sunscreen and keeping water on hand. But what are you doing to protect your eyes?
After all, the summer heat brings a greater risk of certain eye conditions that leave you uncomfortable. Continue reading to learn about common summer eye problems and how you can treat and avoid them.

Eye Allergies

Allergies don’t just affect you during the spring. The warm summer months are also known for allergens like mold, seeds, and air pollutants that cause itching, burning, and dry eye symptoms. Try removing the allergens indoors with a bit of extra cleaning and wear sunglasses to shield your eyes when you go outside.

Corneal Burns

Did you know your eyes could get sunburned? Too much sun exposure can burn your cornea, leading to dry, red eyes, blurry vision, redness, and a gritty feeling. This condition is very rare and only occurs from reflections off of very bright surfaces.

Dry Eyes

Dry eye is one of the most common summer eye problems for a few reasons. Higher temperatures during the summer make your tears evaporate more quickly. Not to mention, the fans and the air conditioning you use to cool off are also drying out your eyes. This can even occur at night if you sleep underneath a fan. Add in the smoke from your campfires, cookouts, and bonfires, and summer is a recipe for the gritty, sandy, burning sensation that comes with dry eye.

You may also experience these dry eye symptoms:

• Stinging
• Eye fatigue
• Burning
• Discharge
• Light sensitivity
• Blurred vision
• Redness

Over-the-counter eye drops and lifestyle adjustments may provide temporary relief. However, if you struggle with chronic dry eye, you may need more individualized solutions like medicated eye drops, punctal plugs, and eyelid expression from the experts in cataract and LASIK surgery in greater Dallas.

Conjunctivitis

Allergic, infectious, and chemical conjunctivitis are examples of the inflammation of the conjunctiva (the thin layer of tissue that covers the eyeball and lining of the eyelids). Allergic and chemical varieties result from air pollution, chlorine in swimming pools, and other irritants and are not considered contagious.

Pathogens found in swimming pools, beaches, campsites can lead to infectious conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye. This viral or bacterial infection can cause redness, swollen lids, sticky discharge, watery eyes, light sensitivity, excessive tearing, and burning. It is highly contagious and spreads easily among children.

The eye doctors in Dallas are equipped to give you topical or oral medication to resolve your eye infection.

Eye Health Tips

It is important to protect your eyes year-round as repeated damage can increase your risk of developing cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye conditions as you get older.

Here are a few ways to keep your eyes healthy and well-protected this summer:

• Wash your hands before putting in and taking out contacts
• Don’t share makeup, towels, pillowcases, sheets, etc.
• Wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection, even on cloudy days
• Drink water regularly to avoid dehydration and promote natural tear production
• Sleep 6 to 8 hours a night to allow for natural rejuvenation
• Use eye drops (without preservatives) to ease dry eye symptoms
• Wash your face after coming inside from a sweaty day to remove allergens that could drip into your eyes
• Wear swim goggles in pools and natural bodies of water to keep out chlorine, contaminants, and other irritants.

At Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers in Texas, we want you to see all your adventures this summer clearly. If you start experiencing vision changes at any point, be sure to schedule an appointment to keep your eyes healthy.