5 Eye Care Tips for Your Family Beach Vacation: Keep Your Eyes Healthy in the Sun
Enjoying a fun-filled beach vacation with your family is undoubtedly possible while still prioritizing eye care. By following these simple eye care tips for your family beach vacation, you can ensure that your loved ones’ eyes are protected and healthy throughout your trip. Protect your eyes with sunglasses and a hat, avoid wearing contact lenses, wear googles in the water and don’t have too much screen time.
Family beach vacations are an opportunity to escape the daily grind of life by spending quality time together. These breaks are perfect opportunities to reset and recharge. However, it’s vital to be mindful of health and safety, especially with kids around, and one aspect that shouldn’t be overlooked is eye care.
Health experts in Canada emphasize that protecting the eyes is critical in the summer. Excessive sun exposure at the beach can damage the eyes, even causing burning, as it does to the skin. Moreover, the damage caused to the eyes may cause cells to replicate or divide abnormally, leading to an increased risk of eye ailments.
If your family is planning a beach trip soon, know that preventing these risks is possible through simple eye care tips. In doing this, you will enjoy worry-free beach days as a family so let’s dive in and find out more.
Here are the top tips I follow with my family on our beach vacations:
Avoid wearing contact lenses
If you or somebody in the family has vision issues, you likely already use corrective glasses or contact lenses. Typically, when spending a lot of time outdoors, you may opt to use prescription sunglasses as they provide both correction and protection.
The only downside is that they may not be the most versatile. As a result, many families may choose to wear contact lenses with sunglasses instead. While contact lenses do provide a layer of efficiency, they aren’t the most beach-friendly.
There is an increased risk of eye irritation and infection from bacteria present in different environments while wearing contact lenses. It is best not to rinse it with water to protect your eyes from potential risks. If you’re asking yourself, “can you swim with contact lenses?” The short answer is no.
Aside from the aforementioned risks, the water causes lenses to dry and tighten, making them difficult to remove. Should this happen, you’ll need to gently flush your eyes with artificial tears before rinsing your contacts with a solution. Alternatively, a much safer practice is to pack your regular glasses along with your sunglasses while on the beach.
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Protect your eyes with sunglasses
While sunny weather is ideal for any beach day, damaging ultraviolet rays shouldn’t be overlooked. The sun emits UVA and UVB rays that can cause long-lasting damage to the body. For the eyes, this can cause everything from eye strain to macular degeneration.
With this in mind, provide your family with sunglasses that provide 100% protection from UVA and UVB rays. This way, damaging rays will be reflected off the lenses, thereby preventing them from penetrating your eyes. For added benefits, you can even opt for polarized lenses.
This extra coating on the lenses specifically blocks out reflective light from sources like water and sand—ensuring less glare and strain on the eyes. Meanwhile, family members who need vision correction and can’t wear contacts may prefer sunglasses with prescription lenses for more convenient and accessible protection.
Double up your protection with a hat
Whether you already have the sunglasses mentioned above or not, bringing along a hat provides essential extra shade. Doing this will guarantee the eyes are safe and make your family vacation safer and more comfortable.
But why hats? Wearing a hat with at least a three-inch brim will protect the top of the head and the eyes from as much as half of all UV rays. Safeguarding your eyes at the beach is crucial since combining hats with everything else discussed will surely be the safest way to enjoy your beach vacation.
Moreover, a hat shields your eyes from excess glare, especially in areas your sunglasses don’t fully cover. If you have little kids, hats are usually easier to keep on since they come with straps or buckles that can keep them in place. The added protection will also reduce the risk of developing cataracts.
Wear goggles in the water
Before heading out to the beach, ensure that every member of your family has fitting goggles. Wearing them is essential when swimming underwater or participating in water sports. This way, you can protect your eyes from any viruses or bacteria present in the ocean and avoid irritation from saltwater.
Goggles are also useful for preventing sand from entering your eyes and causing discomfort. Just make sure to purchase goggles with anti-fog lenses for better visibility and a more enjoyable experience.
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Take breaks from screen time
While the beach is an excellent opportunity to disconnect from technology, it’s also essential to take regular breaks from screens during your trip. The glare and blue light emitted from electronic devices can cause strain on the eyes, leading to symptoms like dryness, headaches, and blurry vision.
Make a conscious effort to limit screen time while on vacation, and encourage your family members to take breaks by engaging in other activities like reading, playing games, or simply taking a walk along the beach.
Final thoughts on Eye Care Tips for Your Family Beach Vacation
The importance of eye care isn’t limited to just beach vacations but should be a priority in everyday life as well. Make sure to practice good habits like wearing sunglasses when outdoors, taking breaks from screen time, and getting regular eye check-ups to maintain optimal eye health.
By doing so, you can prevent long-term damage and ensure the well-being of your eyes for years to come.
So pack those sunglasses, hats, and goggles, and get ready to make unforgettable memories at the beach with your family! Remember, healthy eyes mean a happier and more enjoyable life for both you and your family!
And don’t forget about eye care, no matter where you are or what activities you’re engaged in. Keep your eyes protected and enjoy every moment of your beach vacation! Happy travels! And continue practicing good eye care habits even when you are not at the beach.
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