Wearing sunglasses in the summer can help make your eyes feel relaxed and comfortable. Sunglasses are designed to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays that come from the sun. Just make sure they are UV protection lenses.
And there’s an extra reason to wear sunglasses when you have your contact lenses in. Contact lenses need adequate lubrication to function properly. Exposure to wind can significantly dry your eyes and contact lenses. Wearing sunglasses while wearing your contact lenses provides a protective barrier from the drying effects of the wind.
Keep in mind, however, that wearing contact lenses alone without sunglasses will not protect your eyelids from skin cancer.
Daily disposable contact lenses are easy to use. Each day you can insert a brand new, perfectly clean contact lens. At the end of the day, you dispose of the lens. Changing your lenses on a daily basis is often the answer for people with chronic dry eyes or allergies.
Once you try daily disposable contact lenses, there’s a good chance you will never go back to your monthly or quarterly replacement lenses. Do you really want to clean and disinfect your lenses every day? And let’s be honest. How many of us are really doing a good job of that every evening? Plus, with daily disposables, you never have to purchase expensive disinfecting solutions.
Don’t forget to bring your regular indoor eyeglasses if you take a vacation to give your eyes a break. Also, you never know when you might develop an eye infection, which tends to be a bit more common with contact lens wearers.
It is tempting, especially for people with high prescriptions, to leave them in. However, it is not a part of good ocular hygiene.
This is another reason why some people like to use daily disposable lenses. With daily disposables, you could remove your contact lenses, then pitch them into the trash can without a second thought.
Highly chlorinated pools are breeding grounds for acanthamoeba, an organism that is known for causing sight-threatening infections. Showers and hot tubs can harbor this organism as well.
Acanthamoeba is found in higher concentrations in stagnant, warm rivers and lakes, but not found commonly in ocean water. Although this type of infection is very rare, wearing contact lenses in the water is a risk factor.
Instilling contact lens re-wetting drops frequently will keep your lenses hydrated, keep your eyes feeling comfortable, and help you to maintain clear vision.
Not all eye drop products you may find at your local pharmacy or big box store are compatible with contact lenses. Ask your healthcare provider which type of contact lens re-wetting drops are best for your eyes.
A Word From Verywell
Try to plan ahead for your summer eye health. Make sure you schedule your eye examination ahead of any vacations so you can make sure you have an adequate supply of contact lenses. Don’t forget your sunglasses and your regular indoor eyewear to give your eyes a break. As a contact lens wearer, you can be comfortable in the hot, windy, sandy, summer. It just might need some special care.
