Safe Eyes and Ears for Summer and Beyond by Irene Myers-Thompson Summers in Virginia offer an overture of sensory delights. The sights, sounds, and tactile pleasures of these languid days — from the beach to the mountains — can be filled with adventure and relaxation alike. But summer activities also can carry with them a degree of risk, risks that can have both short- and long-term health consequences. As a medical professional, I wanted to offer a few reminders on how to best protect yourself during the dog days of summer (and beyond!), particularly in helping ensure that you are not damaging your eyes and ears. A Day in the Sun . . . or Not Most folks are well aware of the damage that sun can wreak on your skin. Too much sun can cause burns, accelerate aging, and increase the risk of skin cancer. But lengthy exposure to the sun during outdoor activities also can affect your vision, and so in addition to sunscreen to
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Family • September 2021
protect your skin, it’s also a good idea to invest in some quality eye protection. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can contribute to the development of cataracts and macular degeneration, which can impact your vision and even cause blindness. Many people are not aware that intense shortterm exposure to UV light may cause what we call “eye sunburn,” a painful condition often acquired as a result of outdoor activity. Too much long-term exposure may contribute to skin cancer around the eyes and other sight-threatening conditions. To help reduce these risks, protect your eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses that block out 99 percent or more of UV rays. A wide-brimmed hat is a worthwhile precaution, as well. Then there’s the opposite problem: not getting enough sunlight, a condition that affects children who spend hours — even hours on beautiful sunny days — consumed
by digital devices. Studies show that natural light promotes healthy vision, especially among children and teens whose eyes are still developing. Spending time outside may be a protective factor against nearsightedness. And adults are not immune, either. Partly due to extended periods of up-close reading and screen time, more than 40 percent of Americans have nearsightedness (myopia), which is the inability to see far-off objects clearly. It’s a condition that also is on the rise. Sounds of Summer Summertime activities can make our ears as vulnerable as our eyes. Attending live sports events and music concerts can expose our ears to sounds at decibels that can damage our hearing. Crowd noise at some sporting events can exceed 90 decibels, while the volume at music concerts can exceed 115 decibels. What we know is that prolonged exposure to sounds
