Summer eye care

[Guest guest]

Docs:

Here are some summer eye-care tips from Dr. Woliner.

Lyndon McGill, D.C.

EvolvHealth Wellness Advisory Council Member

Salem, Oregon

www.SalemSpineClinic.com

www.EvolvingDaily.com

Overlooked Summer Risk Accelerates Aging

You hear the warnings every year as summer rolls around. Don’t

get too much sun on your skin… protect yourself from ticks and

other biting insects… avoid overheating and dehydration.

But there’s one summer risk that’s often overlooked. And it’s a

critical mistake. Because this risk can accelerate the aging

process in one of your most important assets… your eyes.

Your eyes are among your body’s most delicate tissues. And they

take a daily beating just by doing their job. The ultraviolet

light bombarding your eyes generates huge amounts of damaging free

radicals. That’s why the antioxidant levels in your eyes’ tissues

are so high. Your eyes need major league protection.

In the summer, when the sun’s light is more intense, ultraviolet

damage is even greater. The bombardment can be so intense your

natural defenses can’t keep up. Without extra protection, this

can actually accelerate the aging process in your eyes.

And ultraviolet light isn’t the only danger. Short wavelength

light – or “blue light” – also contributes to eye damage. It’s

summer sun’s double-whammy.

The first step in protecting your eyes is simple. Wear

sunglasses. But not just any sunglasses will do. Here’s what to

look for when buying sunglasses…

Forget how dark the lenses are. Darkness is not a measure of

protection. In fact, the coating that blocks UV light is clear. So

many light-tented lenses may protect your eyes more effectively

than dark ones.

Look instead for “100% UVA and UVB protection.” Glasses may state

this on their label, or say “ANSI Z80.3” (the industry standard

for UV protection) or list “UV 400” protection.

“UV 400” glasses also block damaging blue light.

Darkness doesn’t protect you from glare, either. To get the best

protection from glare, choose polarized lenses. This is especially

important if you spend a lot of time around water. Water reflects

a lot of light and increases glare.

Brown, green and gray lenses distort colors less than other

shades. They also provide better contrast. So, for driving, these

color lenses are best.

Not all lenses – even those with great protection – are created

equal. Coverage makes a big difference, too.

For the best protection, look for the fullest-coverage lenses you

can find. Wraparounds may not be the height of fashion, but they

provide the best protection.

Watch out for cheap glasses made with lenses stamped from a mold.

Ground-and-polished lenses cost more, but the difference in

quality is worth it. You’ll see much more clearly through a

quality lens.

If you wear contacts, you can get lenses that offer UV filtering.

But be aware that you’ll want non-prescription sunglasses to wear

over these lenses. Contacts don’t protect your entire eye.

During the summer, it’s particularly important to nourish your

eyes, too. Vitamins A, C and E – along with zinc are the basic eye

health combo. These powerful antioxidants all contribute to eye

health. But be sure to add lutein and zeaxanthin as well.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotinoids – vitamin A “cousins” –

that make up 100% of your macular pigment. This pigment is

critical to central vision and detail. Getting plenty of lutein

and zeaxanthin can help promote healthy central vision.

Egg yolk, spinach, zucchini and kiwi fruit – along with dark

green, leafy vegetables – are all good sources of these two

nutrients. You’ll also find them in some vision supplements.

Yours in good health,

Dr Woliner, M.D.