While the warmer days of spring and the approaching summer are welcomed by many Canadians, for others, the hot weather brings with it dry eyes - a common condition that can strike anyone.
Dry eyes are more likely to occur during the spring/summer seasons for reasons including:
- Allergens (e.g. pollen)
- Exposure to sunlight
- Increased risk for developing eye conditions that exacerbate dry eye (e.g conjunctivitis)
- Tear film evaporating more quickly than in the winter months
At Market Mall Optometry, we encourage our patients to schedule regular eye exams with our eye doctors to that we can diagnose the eye condition and provide the appropriate dry eye care.
Using a variety of methods, including advanced contact lenses, our optometrists strive to preserve the clarity of your vision for many summers to come.
Diagnosing Dry Eye
If you believe you are suffering from dry eye, it’s important to book a comprehensive eye exam with your local Calgary optometrist.
Some dry eye symptoms include:
- Feeling of grittiness or soreness in eyes that gets worse as the day goes on
- Burning and red eyes
- Temporarily blurred vision (which improves when you blink)
- Sensitivity to light
Using a series of tests in the eye exam to assess the quality and quantity of your tears, your eye doctor can confirm whether you have this condition and provide advice about any dry eye care treatment you may require.
Preventing Contact Lens Dryness in the Summer
For patients who wear contact lenses, you may find that they dry out quicker and cause more discomfort during the spring/summer months. BUT this doesn’t mean you have to stop wearing your lenses.
Here are some tips on how to prevent contact lens dryness or irritation in the summer:
Wear sunglasses
Exposure to UV rays will cause your contact lenses to dry out and become hard. Not only does wearing sunglasses shield your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun, but also provides protection for your lenses.
Get contact lenses with UV protection
Sunglasses may protect your eyes from many UV rays, but they cannot stop everything. UV-protection contact lenses ensure clear vision with the added benefit of being another line of defense against unwelcome invasion of UV light into the eye.
If you are especially active or spend a lot of time out in the sun, make sure to talk to your local Calgary optometrist during the eye exam about these enhanced contact lenses.
Want to know more about UV protected contact lenses?
Avoid mixing contact lenses with pool/lake water
Everyone looks forward to spending some time at the pool or lake during the summer season but if you are a contact lens wearer, this could increase your risk of developing dry eye symptoms.
Pool Water
Pool water is fairly salty from the chlorine levels and this will dry out your contact lenses.
What to do: Take out your contact lenses when you swim, or if you can’t see without them, wear goggles.
Lake Water
There is a lot of bacteria present in lakewater and this can grow on contact lenses and cause a serious eye infection.
What to do: Wear daily contact lenses which you can throw out after swimming or wear prescription goggles.
Consider daily contact lenses
Daily disposable contact lenses are a great choice for patients with chronic dry eye during the summer. They are always moist and will not dry up on you because they are designed to be thrown out after one use.
Some of the benefits of daily contact lenses include:
- Convenient
- Lower risk of developing an eye infection
- Requires less contact lens care
- No day-to-day accumulation of lens deposits
- An especially good option for teenagers
Give your eyes a break!
While wearing contact lenses does have many benefits, it’s important to take a break from them every once in a while to allow your eyes to refresh themselves. Make it a regular habit during the spring/summer to wear your eyeglasses at least ONCE A WEEK.
Learn More
To find out more about our comprehensive dry eye care services or wide range of contact lens products, contact our Calgary eye doctors today at 403-286-4884 or book an eye exam today.
