Summer is coming and you're probably prepping by painting your toenails, buying new summer clothes and maybe even trying to lose a few pounds, but have you thought about your eyes? Your eyes are going to need to be summer ready and protected in order to prevent damage this summer. If you haven't given your eyes any thought, you need to start. Read on for everything you need to know to protect your eyes this summer.

Be Ready For Allergy Season

If you have issues with allergies, your eyes may be affected in the form of redness, watery eyes, or irritation. To help keep allergies from affecting your day, keep allergy medication on hand. You can talk to your ophthalmologist about using eye drops to help with eye irritation as well. During this time, you may want to skip wearing your contact lenses, as this may cause further irritation. Be sure you have eyeglasses with your updated prescription just in case you aren't able to wear your contacts.

Be Ready For The Sun

You protect your skin from the sun, and need to protect your eyes as well. Don't go outside in the sunlight without protecting your eyes this summer. Wear sunglasses that protect against UV-A and UV-B rays. The sun's harmful rays can lead to cancer of the eye, retinal damage, and it can also cause worsening vision due to squinting in the sunlight. Put on sunglasses when you're outside and wearing a wide-brimmed hat can also help to protect your eyes as well.

Be Ready For Dryness

Summer days can dry out your eyes and cause irritation. Use eye drops or re-wetting drops in your eyes to help keep them from drying out. Drinking plenty of water is going to help keep your entire body hydrated and your eyes as well. Drink at least 8 - 10 glasses of water per day or more if you are outside a lot or sweating a lot—you need to replenish the water you are losing through sweat.

Be Ready For Other Irritants

Allergies, the sun and dryness are all irritants you may encounter, but other irritants such as chlorine from the swimming pool, sand at the beach or wind-blown irritants that get in the eye may also affect you this summer. If you have anything in your eyes, remember not to rub your eyes, as you can cause further irritation to your eyes. Flush out your eyes with clean water and allow the irritant to get out with the flush of water. If you're swimming in a pool with chlorine or swimming at a lake that may be loaded with bacteria, wear goggles to protect your eyes.

Summer is coming, be prepared by painting your toenails, updating your summer wardrobe and prepping your eyes for the season as well. Reach out to ophthalmology services like Idaho Eye and Laser center about other summer tips for your eyes.