Protect Your Eyes
By: Jason Calder
Updated: June 18, 2007
Wednesday you learned tips about protecting your skin against the scorching sun. However, you can't do the same for your eyes. KSAN's Jason Calder spoke with a local opthalmologist and has tips on protecting your power of sight during the summer.
When going outside to enjoy the weather, it's important to protect your skin but what about your eyes?
Dr. Dan Wilson said, "God has blessed us with eyes. We want to protect them, we want to take care of them and have them be useful for a lifetime."
Dr. Wilson, an Opthalmologist at Angelo Laser Eye Center, said the sun can affect your eyes but not as much as it would with your skin.
"It can have some effects on the eye but in general it's not something to be particularly afraid of," he said.
The sun is bright all year round. However, Dr. Wilson said it's important to put on your sunglasses during this time of year to avoid the intense summer glare.
Wilson said, "I think when you're in really bright light that's enough to give you a sunburn it's probably wise to wear UV protection in your sunglasses."
While at the pool, some adults and children tend to open their eyes under water. This can irritate the eye and cause problems. Dr. Wilson said as long as it is not excessive, your eyes will be fine.
"You do expose yourself to strong chemicals and some contamination in any water so it's really best to not over do this," he said.
During the summer months, people get busy and sometimes don't take out their contacts as much as they should. Wilson advises not to sleep in your contacts every night and if you don't like taking them out and putting them back in, you should consider having lasik surgery.
He said, "The infection rate is 16 times as high if you sleep in your contact lenses. It's very safe to wear contacts if you do it right but it is nice to know that lasik is a safe alternative that has actually been proven to be a little safer than contact lenses."
So remember when enjoying the beautiful weather and the sights on San Angelo, keep an eye out for your eyes so you can see into the future. If you would like more information on protecting your eyes, contact your opthalmologist or the Angelo Laser Eye Center at 481-2020.
