It’s time for some fun in the sun.
But sometimes, those who wear glasses consider it to be inconvenient when the weather heats up and the outdoor activities come calling. The alternative, of course, is contact lenses.
Let’s take a look at why you might want to consider contact lenses and why they can actually help keep your eyes safe while you are having fun in the sun this summer.
If you wear eyeglasses…
Unless you have prescription glasses with transitional lenses, or Acuvue Oasys with Transitions, you have to be a master of the quick change—that point where you take off your eyeglasses and put on your sunglasses. And if you want to see clearly, your sunglasses need to be prescription sunglasses. Fortunately, not all prescription sunglasses are expensive, some prescription sunglasses are affordable and stylish.
Another issue with wearing glasses in the summer is sweat on the lenses. Let’s face it, when it’s hot out, you sweat. When you sweat while wearing glasses, you have to repeatedly stop what you’re doing and wipe your lenses… most likely by using your shirt. If you’ve experienced this—and if you wear glasses you definitely have—you know what comes next, smudged and cloudy lenses for the rest of the day.
Reasons to consider contact lenses during the summer
Contact lenses can provide UV-protection
Some contact lenses are manufactured to include an added layer of protection from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. While this added protection isn’t a substitute for wearing sunglasses, it does give your eyes a little extra protection. The built-in UV protection in these contact lenses, when combined with a quality pair of sunglasses allows you to double up the UV protection for your eyes.
Contacts lenses eliminate the “sweaty slide”
Sweating it out during the dog days of summer not only results in sweaty, smeared, and cloudy glasses, but it also ensures you’ll spend most of your day pushing your glasses back up on your nose.
Wearing contact lenses takes the frustration out of trying to keep your glasses from sliding while you are working, playing, or relaxing in the sun.
No more summer fog
Like the windows in your house or car, glasses take some time to acclimate to a change in temperature. When glasses don’t have time to adjust, they steam or fog up—leaving you unable to see anything at all.
You’re most likely to notice this when you are going from your air-conditioned car or house into the heat of summer, especially when it’s muggy out. Contact lenses eliminate summer fog and keep you seeing clearly all day long.
Tips for the best contact lens experience come summertime
Switching from prescription glasses to contacts will help eliminate the hassles associated with wearing glasses in the summer, but it’s not going to fix everything. It’s important to point out that increased exposure to the sun, wind, sand, and outdoor allergens can leave your eyes red, tired, and irritated.
While practicing safe and consistent contact lens hygiene is always important, it becomes even more important during the summer. If you make the switch to contacts this summer, take extra precaution and make sure to:
- Consider wearing daily disposable contact lenses.
Daily disposable lenses are a great way to keep seeing clearly while avoiding the increased chance of eye irritation and inflammation that comes with being exposed to the elements of summer.
- Double up on the artificial tears.
Tears are essential to keep your eyes moist and healthy, especially while wearing contact lenses. Being outside in the summer exposes your eyes to increased amounts of sun, heat, and wind, making it more difficult for them to keep up with the increased demand for the tears needed to keep your eyes from becoming dry and irritated.
Most optometrists recommend keeping your eyes properly hydrated during summer by using artificial tears as directed and at least two to four times a day as a way to keep your eyes healthy and your vision clear.
- Wear goggles when you swim.
While it’s tempting to dive right into a refreshing pool or lake, it is not safe to swim while wearing contact lenses. If you are going to swim, always take a minute to protect your eyes by wearing goggles. Swimming in pools and lakes while wearing contact lenses significantly increases your risk of being exposed to acanthamoeba, an organism that can cause a rare, but very serious eye infection.
You can still enjoy the water while you are wearing contact lenses, just make sure to wear a water-tight pair of goggles while you do.
- Wear your glasses once in a while.
Wearing contact lenses is a great way to gain back some freedom lost while wearing glasses during the summer, but it’s also important to give your eyes an occasional break by wearing your prescription glasses.
For best results, try to give your eyes a few hours of fresh air each day by wearing your prescription eyeglasses for an hour or two before you go to bed each night. And whatever you do, wear your contacts safely and avoid sleeping with your contact lenses in. Keeping your contact lenses in while you sleep increases your risk of serious eye infection by nearly 80%!
Contact lenses and summer: a perfect pairing
Contact lenses give you the freedom to get out there and enjoy everything the season has to offer. If you’d like to learn more about making the switch over to contact lenses, talk to your eye doctor about which contact lenses are best for you.
