How to protect your eyes from sand & saltwater
Enjoying nature by the beach is a great way to relax and enjoy time either by yourself, or with friends and family. Our eyes can be sensitive, especially when exposed to sunlight, sand and water. So whether you’re sunbathing, swimming, or playing sport it’s important to help protect your eyes. Here are some top tips to help keep your eyes safe from irritation and damage.
Protective eyewear
Wear sunglasses with UV protection
Sunglasses with UV protection help protect your eyes from the damaging effects of the sun's harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays. As well as protecting your eyes from sunlight, sunglasses can help keep out dust and wind-blown sand. Read more about the importance of sunglasses with UV protection. You may also want to think about choosing wraparound frames, as they can help block any light that arrives from different angles due to their rounded shape.
Consider polarised lenses
Polarised lenses are a great option to help improve visibility as well as protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. They can help reduce sun glare from reflective surfaces like water, making it easier to see details. Find out more about lens options here.
Goggles for swimming and water sports
Swimming goggles not only help improve underwater visibility, they can also protect your eyes from water splashes. A well-fitted pair of swimming goggles can help prevent water from entering your eyes as well as irritation from salt.
Safety glasses for beach activities
If you’re going to be playing beach volleyball, sand dune biking or desert quad biking, you might want to consider wearing desert goggles or sand goggles. These are lightweight, protective and ventilated to help prevent fogging.
Try to avoid rubbing your eyes if you get sand in your eyes
Sometimes it’s hard to avoid getting sand in your eyes. If you do get sand in your eyes, try to resist the urge to rub them, as rubbing can cause small scratches on the cornea of your eye. This is the clear, curved front layer of the eye - find out more about how the eye works. Scratches can lead to discomfort and potential eye infection. Here’s what to do if you do get sand in your eyes:
• Blink repeatedly to let natural tears wash away small particles
• Use fresh water or saline solution to rinse out and remove any debris in a gentle manner
• Use eyedrops to help flush out any irritants and maintain eye moisture
Keep your hands clean
When you’re at the beach, it can be easy to forget to keep hands clean. For the following reasons:
• Wet or sweaty hands causes sand to cling
• There’s limited access to clean water, even with toilets available
• Sunscreen and lotion attracts sand and dirt to stick even more
• Food and snacks can be messy, especially when eating with sandy hands
• Saltwater residue as a result of swimming, leaving a dry and sticky feeling that makes sand harder to shake off
• The wind can carry sand onto your hands
So before touching your eyes, it’s important to ensure your hands are as clean as they can be. Sand and bacteria can easily transfer from your hands to your eyes. This can increase your chances of eye infection, so it’s best to take hand sanitiser with you to the beach if soap and water isn’t available
Try to avoid swimming whilst wearing contact lenses
If you’re a contact lens wearer, it’s best to try and avoid swimming in the sea whilst wearing contact lenses. It’s also recommended that your contact lenses should not be exposed to any type of water, including tap water, swimming pools, oceans, lakes, hot tubs and showers. This is because your contact lenses absorb water very quickly and may trap different viruses, germs and bacteria, which could result in eye conditions such as eye infections, corneal ulcers, eye inflammation and dry eye syndrome.
Although it's not advisable to swim with your contact lenses, to help reduce the chances of eye contamination you could choose to wear daily disposable contact lenses, that can be disposed of after swimming, with tight-fitting waterproof swimming googles.
Keep hydrated
Staying hydrated can help your body produce a healthy volume of tears, which can help to reduce the risk of dryness and eye irritation caused by the sun, wind and saltwater exposure. Try to ensure you are drinking plenty of water throughout the day, especially when you are spending lots of time at the beach.
Carry eyedrops with you
Keeping lubricating eye drops or artificial tears with you can help provide relief from dryness and irritation caused by saltwater and sand exposure. Using preservative-free drops can also help to avoid any further irritation and can be used throughout the day to keep your eyes refreshed. It’s best to speak to your optician on specific eye drops recommended for you. Explore eye drops here.
Wear a hat or visor
A wide-brimmed hat or visor can help to protect your eyes from direct sunlight, as well as wind and debris. It can also help limit UV rays that hit the eyes from above or around glasses. There are many stylish options that can compliment any outfit. If you’re after convenience, a classic baseball cap can help offer much-needed protection.
Rinse around your eyes after you’re your beach day
A handy tip after beach activities is to try and rinse your around your eyes with fresh, clean water to remove any lingering salt or sand particles that are stuck on your skin or eyelashes. This is a simple step that can help prevent any long-term irritation or discomfort.
Think you have an eye infection?
If your eyes are consistently watering, appear red, swollen, feel painful or sensitive to light, these could be symptoms of an eye infection. If your irritation persists and feels or looks worse, it’s best to contact your optician, GP or NHS 111 as soon as possible. They can help determine whether there is an underlying issue that requires treatment.
Conclusion
Enjoying your time at the beach, is a great way to make the most of the warm weather. Your eyes are delicate, so it’s important to protect them from the elements when spending time at the beach to ensure you’re having a great experience, free from discomfort and pain. By taking the above steps, you can help to keep your vision healthy. If you need any further tips or advice, come and see us by booking an appointment today.
