Summer brings sunshine, beach days, and poolside relaxation—but it also increases your exposure to environmental factors that can harm your eyes. However, many people unknowingly rely on outdated or inaccurate beliefs about how to care for their eyes during the summer. From UV exposure to contact lens safety, it’s time to set the record straight.
In this article, we’ll debunk some of the most common eye myths about summer eye health and help you make informed decisions to care for your eyes. We'll also reinforce the importance of vision insurance and professional eye care in protecting your eyes long-term.
Not all sunglasses necessarily provide the same protection. Many sunglasses may look stylish, but if they don't specifically state 100% UVA/UVB protection or “UV 400,” they won’t shield your eyes from sun damage.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the darkness of lenses is not an indicator of protection. In fact, dark lenses without UV filters can cause more damage by dilating pupils and letting in more harmful rays.
Bottom line: Check for labels that specify 100% UVA and UVB protection or “UV 400” when purchasing sunglasses; and when in doubt, opt for trusted retailers or brands.
The opposite is true: Kids need sunglasses more than adults. Children’s eye health is more at risk because their lenses are clearer and allow more UV to reach the retina, increasing vulnerability to long-term damage. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children and infants wear protective sunglasses anytime they are in enough sun to tan, and to make sure the lenses offer 100% UV protection.
Solution: Invest in child-size sunglasses with UV protection for your kids, make it part of their summer routine, and model the same behavior because kids learn from the adults around them. Teaching your kids early builds habits that can help protect their vision for life. Check out our other tips on kids’ eye health, too!
Hats provide some shade, but UV rays can bounce off reflective surfaces like water, sand, or pavement, reaching your eyes from underneath. Some hats may even have a light enough weave to let in more sun than you’re expecting!
Solution: Wear sunglasses in combination with a wide-brimmed hat to make sure you’re covered from all angles.
Sun damage to eyes isn’t always immediate. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, UV exposure builds over time and can lead to long-term eye conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration, or glaucoma even in the absence of immediate pain or irritation. Similarly, irritation from chlorinated or natural water can be delayed.
Solution: Take precautions before eye damage occurs—especially during high UV months like June through September. Always wear your UV-blocking sunglasses or UV-blocking swim goggles, as appropriate.
Rinsing your contacts with tap water is a risky practice. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends always cleaning and storing your lenses correctly to avoid eye infections, using bottled or tap water can lead to serious damage.
Solution: When traveling, make sure you don’t leave home without a backup supply of your recommended contact lens solution.
Many vision insurance plans do more than just cover exams. They may include allowances or discounts for prescription sunglasses and coverage for common seasonal issues like summer eye irritation, dry eye, and allergy-related discomfort.
Solution: Check with your eye care provider—you may be missing out on useful benefits for warm-weather eye care.
Not only are prescription sunglasses just as effective, but they can also provide the same lens quality and options—plus full UV protection. Many sunglasses offer polarization to cut glare from water and roads, making them perfect for summer driving and beach days.
Solution: Prescription sunglasses can be chosen to accent your style, while still helping you see clearly and offering all the protection you need from the sun’s rays.
Clouds don’t block UV, so you still need to protect your eyes when going outside, no matter if it’s cloudy or sunny. This is one of the hardest things to remember. When it’s cloudy or even hazy, it’s easy to leave the sunglasses behind because it just doesn’t seem bright enough.
Solution: Make sunglasses a daily habit—not just a sunny-day accessory.
Swimming pools, lakes, and oceans contain bacteria and microbes that can get trapped under soft lenses and lead to infections or corneal ulcers. The American Academy of Ophthalmology strongly advises against swimming with contacts. It’s recommended that you don’t swim with any type of contact lenses such as soft contacts, hard contacts, and hybrid contacts.
Solution: If you must swim with contacts, including daily disposable contact lenses, wear airtight goggles and discard lenses immediately afterward, or consider prescription goggles.
Reflected UV light can be damaging just like direct exposure to the sun. Water, sand, snow, and even concrete can bounce UV rays into your eyes, increasing the risk of photokeratitis, which is a sunburn of the eye.
Solution: Always choose sunglasses that block 99% or more of UV light. Additionally, polarized lenses significantly reduce glare and should be a go-to for anyone spending time near water or reflective surfaces.
Protecting Your Eyes This Summer: Key Takeaways
Summer should be a time to relax and enjoy the sun’s rays—but don’t let common eye myths put your vision at risk. Armed with facts and backed by your healthy habits, you can enjoy the season knowing you're protecting your eye health.
This summer, it might be time for a comprehensive eye exam to see if you’re ready for a corrective lens update—or new prescription sunglasses! That’s made easy with a vision insurance plan from VSP® Individual Vision Plans.
VSP vision insurance is widely accepted—with over 39,000 providers—and offers a solid range of benefits and advantages.
To get the most out of your plan:
Whether you’re due for an annual eye exam or just need a new pair of glasses, knowing where to use your VSP benefits can help you save both time and money. Get started with the VSP Individual Vision Plan Selector today.
Information received through VSP Individual Vision Plans’ social media channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
*Premier Edge is not available to VSP Individual Vision Plan members in the state of Texas.
Dr. Valerie Sheety-Pilon is Vice President of Clinical and Medical Affairs at VSP Vison Care where she helps drive strategic initiatives aimed at raising awareness about vision, eye health and its connection to overall wellness, while providing insight into medical advancements that seek to benefit patient care. She also provides oversight of VSP programs to address gaps in care for some of the most high-risk populations, including those living with diabetes.
With more than two decades of experience as a Doctor of Optometry, Dr. Sheety-Pilon has dedicated much of her time to clinical research across numerous ophthalmic subspecialties and has an established history of helping patients through novel therapeutic agents and clinical adoption of transformative technology in the areas of digital health, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.
Prior to joining VSP Vision in 2019, Dr. Sheety-Pilon served as Adjunct Clinical Professor at Illinois College of Optometry, held various executive positions within the eye health industry, and has extensive experience managing and practicing within an ophthalmology and optometry practice.
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