Eye diseases and conditions, including cataracts, pterygium, and cancerous growths, can develop or worsen due to excessive sun exposure. Cumulative UV damage and oxidative stress can increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration, which has no cure and causes central vision loss. Even the thin skin of the eyelids is impacted by the sun and can experience dryness, premature wrinkles, and loss of elasticity.

Tips for Choosing UV-Protective Sunglasses

Sunglasses are key to protecting your eye health in the summer, and choosing the right pair goes far beyond fashion. You need 100% UV-blocking sunglasses to keep your eyes safe, but that might be trickier than you realize. UV blocking doesn’t mean choosing the most expensive or darkest shade of lenses. When shopping for sunglasses, look for a label or sticker confirming 100% UVA and UVB protection.

Look for a wrap-around style of sunglasses where the lenses or frame stretch to your temples. That design prevents the sun’s rays from causing damage through the side of the sunglasses. Some types of contact lenses provide UV protection, but you still need UV-protective sunglasses to keep your eyes safe.

When you plan to spend time in the sun, wear a wide-brimmed hat for further eye protection from UV light, and don’t forget that children and babies need sunglasses and hats too!

Sun Safety Facts to Keep in Mind

UV rays can pass through the haze of thin clouds, causing sun damage to your eyes and skin year-round. This exposure is particularly potent during peak hours of the day, around 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If possible, avoid direct sun exposure during those hours, especially for children.

Never look directly at the sun, even during an eclipse. Looking at the sun may cause solar retinopathy, which occurs when solar radiation damages the eye’s retina. Sunlight can bounce off snow and water and is more intense at higher altitudes.

Follow these UV safety precautions year-round and not just when you visit the beach.

Pamel Vision & Laser Group hopes you enjoy the summer sun during UV safety month. Schedule an eye exam with our eye doctors in Astoria and New York, New York, by calling (212) 355-2215.

Dr. Gregory Pamel suggests waiting at least a week or two before resuming any exercise, and adds the following advice:

No Swimming

If swimming is your favorite form of exercise, you should probably find a substitute activity for a while. In the first two weeks, your eye will be irritated by exposure to water. In the subsequent weeks, you need to avoid lakes, oceans and other bodies of water because they often have bacteria that could infect your eyes. Similarly, you should avoid pools and hot tubs because the chlorine can burn your ailing eyes.

Dodge Potential Injuries

Part of the reason to lay off exercise for a period is the increased potential for an eye injury. Any sport where there is a chance of a ball, elbow or any foreign object hitting your eye can cause serious and permanent damage to your eye post-surgery. It is best to play it safe while you recover.

Be aware that exercise risks go beyond aggravating your eyes. Because your vision is diminished for some time after your surgery, that makes you more liable to, say, jog into a tree or cycle into a car. Keep yourself safe by resting and relaxing for the prescribed amount of time.

Do Not Get Strenuous

After a couple of weeks you may be ready to resume some physical activity, but avoid pushing too hard. While moderate exercise should have no effect on your eye health, overexertion puts additional pressure on your eyes, which can do damage. In particular, lifting heavy weights increases ocular pressure, so you will want to avoid that for a month or two.

Mind Your Stretches

Admittedly, yoga is not usually considered strenuous exercise, but you should be mindful of what poses you choose. It is important to keep your head above your waist during recovery since bending too low will put added pressure on your eyes. For that reason, temporarily skip the downward dog and child’s pose — the same goes for toe touches.

Ask Dr. Pamel

Since many factors depend on the type of eye surgery you undergo, Dr. Pamel will discuss the specifics of physical activity ahead of your treatment. At your follow-up appointments, Dr. Pamel will check on your progress, and you may ask questions about potentially adjusting your exercise timeline based on that assessment.

To schedule a consultation to discuss any issues regarding eye surgery, call the team at Pamel Vision & Laser Group at 212-355-2215.

Here, Dr. Gregory Pamel, an ophthalmologist in New York City, reveals signs that you may be overusing your eye drops and putting yourself at risk of serious problems.

You use Visine regularly, but your eye redness is getting worse instead of better.

The blood vessels on your eye’s surface dilate in response to irritants. The increased blood flow associated with this dilation is intended to send oxygen and nutrients to repair whatever has irritated the eye. Medicated eye drops like Visine work by “clamping down” on the blood vessels and constricting blood flow so the eyes look less red and irritated.

Using these eye drops occasionally is not a problem. But overusing the drops can set up a cycle of dependency. Your eyes have to work even harder to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the blood vessels. The more you use the drops, the redder your eyes become. This is sometimes referred to as “rebound redness.” Eventually this can escalate to chronic eye redness.

If you use the drops for a few days and don’t see relief, it’s important to see an eye doctor to determine the root cause of the problem and find a better solution.

You see them as a cure to your problem.

Artificial tears can be very soothing if you suffer from dry eye syndrome. They mimic natural tears and help maintain the moisture in your eyes. However, unless you are following your doctor’s instructions for long-term use, the constant use of artificial tears can actually cause your natural tears to wash away, and with them natural moisturizers that protect your eye.

Artificial tears are not a lasting cure to dry eye. Dry eye is caused by insufficient tear production or an imbalance in your tear film. These problems are best addressed with a dry eye doctor who can recommend ways to correct the underlying issue.

Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Pamel

Instead of continuing to use eye drops incorrectly, you could benefit from a visit with Dr. Pamel to discuss your symptoms and determine a plan of action. Call our practice today to request an appointment with the doctor.