Summer eye health tips

As schools break up, and many people prepare to set off on their summer holidays, The College of Optometrists has issued tips to remind the public that your eyes need to be protected, even if you are not travelling to a hotter country.

The College has issued the following advice to safeguard eye health and vision over the summer months:

• If you’re spending more time outdoors, make sure you and your children have good quality sunglasses with UV protection. Look out for the British Standard (BS EN ISO 12312-1:2013), the CE or UKCA mark
• Hats are not just a fashion accessory, they are also a great way to protect your eyes from the glare of the sun! Add an extra layer of protection this summer by wearing a hat with a wide brim or a sun visor to keep the eyes comfortable
• Watertight goggles are a great way to protect your eyes while swimming. They can help shield your eyes from infection causing microbes often found in pools. If you wear contact lenses, we recommend you take them out before swimming.
• There is evidence that encouraging children to spend time outdoors could reduce the onset of myopia (short sightedness) so do try make sure they have some time playing outside each day.

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