Many people understand the importance of protecting their skin throughout the summer months, but fewer are aware that it is similarly important to take the steps to protect their eyes. There are many steps that you can take to help protect your eyes in the summer. These steps can help to protect the health of your eyes and minimize the possibility of serious problems due to excessive sun exposure or other issues. Here are some tips to help you protect your eyes in the summer.

Dangers of Sun Exposure

When your eyes are exposed to UV rays from the sun, there are many negative health consequences that may arise. For one thing, consistent sun exposure often increases the risk of developing cataracts over time. Cancer is another problem that can arise due to too much sun exposure. Photokeratitis is the term for what are essentially eye sunburns. When your eyes get burned, it will be incredibly uncomfortable and may even have a negative impact on the health of your eyes.

Wear Sunglasses

It is crucial to ensure that you wear sunglasses throughout the summer months. This is especially important when it comes to time at the beach, because the sand and water can reflect UV rays back into your eyes. Wearing sunglasses can help to protect your vision. It is important to ensure that the sunglasses are designed to block UV rays. They need to both protect from UVA rays and UVB rays that can damage your eyes. Consider sunglasses that will wraparound in order to prevent sunlight and UV rays from entering through the sides of the sunglasses.

Wear a Hat

Wearing a hat can help to protect your eyes in the summer. Ensure that this hat has a wide brim that will provide shade. The brim of the hat can help to protect the vision by providing shade over the eyes. It can also help to protect the skin of the face. A hat, in general, is an excellent idea in the summer months because it can also help to protect the scalp from becoming burnt.

Take Care in the Pool

It is incredibly important to be careful about your eyes when you spend time in a swimming pool. There are many issues that can arise when you are careless with your vision in the pool. Conjunctivitis, commonly referred to as pink eye, is an incredibly contagious disease that can spread throughout a pool. This can cause an individual to contract pink eye from simply swimming in the same pool as another person who has pink eye. Eyes can easily become irritated from the chlorine that is present in the swimming pool. Acanthamoeba keratitis is an incredibly serious, though rare, infection that can occur from swimming in the pool. This infection arises when a particular microscopic amoeba becomes trapped between the cornea and the contacts. This can result in blindness, which is one of the reasons that it is incredibly important to care for the eyes in the summer.

There are several steps that you can take to make it safer for your eyes when you swim in the pool. You should never wear your contacts while swimming, as this can cause bacteria to become trapped in the eyes. You should also consider wearing goggles whenever you are swimming in order to prevent harmful particles from coming into contact with your eyes. Using eye drops and staying hydrated can similarly help to protect your eyes in the summer. Washing your eyes with clean water after swimming can similarly help to provide protection for the eyes.

Lakes and Ponds

Swimming in lakes and ponds is another popular summer activity. Lakes and ponds often contain high levels of bacteria that can cause infections in the eyes. Just like when you swim in a pool, you shouldn’t wear contacts when swimming in lakes and ponds and should consider the use of goggles.

Use Eye Protection During Outdoor Activities

Ensure that you always use eye protection during outdoor activities. For example, you should always wear sunglasses or other protective eyewear when you mow the lawn. There is the possibility that the lawnmower can kick up a rock that can hit your eye. Outdoor sports, four wheeling, and other outdoor activities will benefit from the use of protective eyewear, as well. Wearing this gear can go a long way toward protecting your vision.

Get Enough Sleep

There are many reasons that it is important to get enough sleep, both for general health and the health of the eyes. When you ensure that you get the amount of sleep that you need, you will be able to help prevent your eyes from drying out. You should also ensure that you remain hydrated during the summer to ensure that your eyes can stay moisturized and comfortable.

Signs and Symptoms of Sunburnt Eyes

Understanding the signs and symptoms of sunburnt eyes can help you to provide the appropriate protection for the health of your eyes. Sunburns on the eyes often result in pain that can range from mild to severe. Bloodshot or teary eyes are also incredibly common when the eyes become sunburnt. Light sensitivity, blurred vision, and the sensation of something in your eye all generally occur when your eyes become sunburnt. If you notice these symptoms, you should ensure that you wear sunglasses and prevent any additional sun exposure.

At Wolcott Optical, our team is passionate about protecting the health of your eyes and optimizing your vision. It is crucial to protect your eyes in the summer, because they can easily become burnt or damaged by common summer activities. Taking care when you are swimming, playing sports, or just being out in the sun can go a long way toward protecting your vision. It is important to regularly obtain eye exams in order to check the condition of your eyes and keep them healthy. To learn more about the best strategies for protecting your eyes in the summer months, contact our experts at Wolcott Optical today!

Glasses can be incredibly expensive, which makes it important to take proper care of them. Many people have to wear glasses, but few are aware of how to really care for their glasses. When you know how to care for your glasses, you will be able to keep them in great condition for an extended period of time. This will go a long way toward ensuring that they continue to function effectively. Here at Wolcott Optical, we carry a large selection of eyeglasses to ensure that you can obtain the perfect pair of glasses for your needs. By following these steps, you can care for your glasses and keep them in great condition.

Clean Glasses Daily

It is critical to clean your glasses on a regular basis. This should generally be done at least once a day. With regular cleaning, you will be able to remove smudges, dust, and dirt that can otherwise accumulate on the surface of your glasses. It is important to clean your glasses appropriately in order to prevent damage to the surface of your lenses. When you clean your glasses daily, you will be able to prevent a substantial accumulation of issues, as well as ensure that you can see more clearly through your glasses.

Rinse with Water or Spray

Many people simply rub grime off of their glasses while they are dry. When they do this, dust or debris tends to be spread around the surface of the lenses, which can cause scratches. It is important to ensure that you wet your glasses prior to cleaning them. You can either rinse them with water or spray them with a specific glasses cleaning solution. Never try to clean your glasses while they are completely dry. Taking the extra step to rinse them can go a long way toward keeping them in good condition.

Don’t Use Household Cleaners

Only use the right cleaners on your eyeglasses. When you use general household cleaners, they are highly likely to contain ammonia or other chemicals that can cause damage to your glasses. Ammonia, for example, causes the special coating on the lenses to deteriorate. Obtain a glasses cleaning solution to ensure that you will have an option for cleaning your glasses without resorting to household cleaners that can cause damage to your glasses.

Use the Right Cloth

Many people use the bottom of their shirt, toilet paper, paper towels, or tissues to clean their glasses. While these materials may feel soft to the touch, they are often textured. This means that they can cause scratches to the lenses of your eyeglasses. When you need to clean your glasses, you should only use either a microfiber cloth or a cloth that is made of 100% cotton.

Place them Correctly

Many people don’t pay enough attention to their glasses when they put them down. However, it is important to ensure that you place the glasses down correctly in order to prevent damage. When you place your glasses lens downward, they are highly likely to accumulate scratches. Always put your glasses down with the lens facing upwards to prevent these scratches from occurring.

Hold Carefully

Always hold your glasses carefully. Ensure that you use both hands whenever you put your glasses on or take them off. In addition, when you are rinsing your glasses, you will want to hold them by the bridge of the nose. This will help to prevent the frame from bending due to uneven pressure. When you hold your glasses carefully, you can ensure that the frames stay level and remain in good condition. It is also important to hold your glasses carefully to prevent dropping them. Dropping your glasses can cause everything from dents, crooked frames, and even shattered lenses.

Store Appropriately

You should always store your glasses appropriately when you aren’t using them. Keep them in a hard case when they are not in use. Not only will this help to prevent the accumulation of dirt and dust, but it will also help to protect the glasses from sustaining damage. In addition, storing your glasses appropriately can help to keep them from becoming lost.

Air Dry

Whenever it is possible to do so, allow your eyeglasses to air dry, rather than wiping off the liquid. This will help to prevent the necessity of finding the exact right cloth to prevent scratches to its surface. However, if it is necessary to use your glasses immediately, you will still want to use only a microfiber cloth or 100% cotton cloth to dry the lenses.

Be Careful About Temperatures

Extreme temperatures can cause damage to glasses. It is important to never leave your glasses in a hot car, especially on the dashboard. The glass of the windshield tends to act like a magnifying glass, which exacerbates the heat the glasses experience. This heat can cause deterioration to the lenses of the glasses. It can also lead to warping of the frame, which can make the glasses difficult to wear. The same thing applies to extremely cold temperatures. Whenever you leave your glasses, ensure that you keep them stored in a room that is a moderate temperature.

Keep Out of Reach

Keep your glasses out of reach of children and pets. When these glasses fall into the wrong hands, they can easily become damaged. When you keep the glasses out of reach of your children or pets, you can prevent this damage from occurring. Try to teach your children the importance of being careful with glasses, especially if they wear glasses themselves.

At Wolcott Optical, we offer many services to ensure that you are able to obtain the perfect pair of glasses for your vision-related needs. It is critical to ensure that you care for your glasses appropriately in order to keep them in good condition and prevent damage. Following these steps can help to keep your glasses clean and ensure that they work more effectively. To learn more about the glasses we offer or how to care for your glasses, contact our experts at Wolcott Optical today!

Many people are uncertain whether they should obtain contacts or glasses. It isn’t always financially feasible to obtain both contacts and glasses to meet your visual needs. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages to each type can help you to make the ideal decision for your specific needs. Here are a few things to keep in mind about the debate of contacts vs glasses.

Which Is Better? Contacts vs Glasses

Many people argue that one form of vision correction is superior to the other. However, this is simply a matter of preference. There are many considerations that may impact the ideal decision for your situation. For example, you will want to consider your own aesthetic preferences, your lifestyle, and your specific vision issues when you decide whether to use contacts or glasses. The contacts vs glasses debate depends primarily on these many different factors. Some people may prefer contacts while others may prefer glasses for their specific needs.

Glasses

Glasses come in all shapes and styles. They have many different lens types that can be implemented to substantially improve your vision and meet your needs. There are many considerations that have to be taken into account when you decide on the contacts vs glasses debate. Various lens types, such as bifocals or trifocals, can ensure the best vision for your daily life. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages that come along with using glasses on a regular basis.

Pros

Glasses tend to require far less upkeep than contacts. Though you may have to clean the lenses occasionally, you don’t have to clean them on a nightly basis. In addition, glasses tend to result in less risk to your eyes, as they don’t lead to infections as much as contacts. Glasses can serve as a protective shield that can prevent dirt and debris from entering your eyes. Some people may find that they feel far more comfortable with glasses.

There are many varieties of frames that are available to meet your appearance-related needs. Glasses don’t require replacement quite as often as contacts and you may even be able to have lenses switched out with your existing frames as your prescription changes. The right glasses will often have better UV protection than contacts. They also reduce the need to touch your eyes, which is an increasingly important component during this turbulent time.  

Cons

Though there are many benefits associated with glasses, there are a few disadvantages that still need to be taken into account. For one thing, many people don’t love their appearance with glasses. This can cause people to feel self-conscious while wearing glasses. Glasses may also be rather fragile and can break easily. The weight and tension caused by some glasses may result in headaches, especially when worn daily. For incredibly active individuals, glasses can be disruptive. You will have to take care that your glasses don’t fall off while exercising. Frames of the glasses may interfere with the individual’s field of vision, especially when the frames are rather thick. Glasses can also be prone to fogging when experiencing inclement weather or temperature changes. This is amplified when an individual wears masks, which is especially common recently.

Contacts

Contact lenses adhere to the surface of the eye in order to provide clearer vision with minimal discomfort. Though these contacts used to be incredibly uncomfortable, innovations have allowed them to become far more effective. Many people choose to use contact lenses in order to provide minimal inconvenience while allowing them to see clearly. Contacts can be an extremely efficient method for correcting vision. Here are a few of the pros and cons of using contacts for your vision correction.

Pros

Contacts are often implemented due to the improved appearance that they provide. In addition, colored lenses are available. If you want to change your eye color while simultaneously improving your vision, contacts are a great option. Contacts can be used in conjunction with an active lifestyle. While playing sports, you don’t have to worry about losing or breaking your glasses. Contacts don’t have the same weight of the frames of glasses, which can prevent added pressure. Unlike glasses, contacts allow for the individual to buy them in bulk to ensure that you have them available. They need to be replaced more frequently, but are often far more convenient. Contacts tend to be less noticeable to wear throughout the day, while glasses may be a somewhat constant pressure.

Cons

Contacts can be incredibly convenient and comfortable options for correcting your vision. However, it is important to keep in mind the few issues that may be associated with wearing contacts on a regular basis. For example, when you wear contacts regularly, they sit on the surface of your eye. This can cause the eye to become more susceptible to infections or other issues. They require far more maintenance and need to be cleaned and cared for more regularly than glasses. These things can cause the eyes to dry out, as well. Some people find that contacts are difficult to apply and may have difficulty getting used to them. It is important to keep in mind that you will likely adjust to them over time and may find them to be a more convenient option. Also consider whether you have allergies. Allergy season often has an impact on your eyes.

When it comes to your vision, it is important to ensure that you make the best decision for your particular situation. Understanding the various factors in the contacts vs glasses debate can allow you to choose the best solution for you. Both glasses and contacts come with benefits and drawbacks. The decision that you make is largely based off of your own preferences and desires. Here at Wolcott Optical, we strive to provide a broad array of services to ensure the healthiest eyes possible. Whether you prefer to wear glasses or contacts, we have the ideal solution for you. To learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of contacts compared to glasses, contact our experts today!