Summer vacation is here! Is your family spending more time outside playing, swimming, or going to the beach? Outdoor activities expose your skin and eyes to harmful, ultra-violet (UV) rays from the sun. Children’s eyes receive 70% more exposure to these harmful rays than adult eyes! This can put them at risk of developing eye diseases as adults.
6 tips from the Discovery Eye Foundation on how you can protect your kids this summer:
- Wear sunglasses – especially younger children
- Wear protective eye gear for ball or shooting sports
- Don’t rub if sand gets in the eyes
- Use a non-irritating sunscreen
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat. Remember, whenever you are wearing sunglasses or a hat for comfort and protection from the sun, your children should be wearing them too.
- Check chlorine levels in your pool to prevent eye infections from algae and other bacteria. Keep your eyes closed under water to prevent eye irritation from the chlorine.