Summer Months and Your Eyes: What to Watch Out for on Vacation

Summer is the favorite season for many of us. Holidays, swimming, trips, and outdoor sports await. But during the summer, our eyes take on quite a load. Strong sun, air conditioning, wind, and saltwater – all of these can cause discomfort if we don't take proper care of our vision.

Here’s how to protect your eyes and enjoy summer without unpleasant surprises.

Sunglasses Are Not Just a Fashion Accessory – They Are Essential Protection

Many of us choose sunglasses based on style, but the most important factor often goes unnoticed – UV protection. Sunlight contains UVA and UVB rays that, with prolonged exposure, can damage delicate eye structures like the cornea, lens, and retina.

„At our clinic, we often see patients who exposed their eyes to sunlight for years without proper protection. The consequences often appear much later. Sunglasses should be as essential as sunscreen," says Dr. Ivo Ďurkovič, MPH, Head Ophthalmologist at iClinic.

That’s why you should always wear sunglasses with 100% UVA and UVB protection. Dark lenses alone are not enough – if there’s no filter, they can even be harmful.

Choosing the right shape is also important. Polarized lenses are practical, as they reduce glare from water surfaces or roads.

Practical tip: Don’t forget about children – their eyes are more sensitive and need just as much protection as adult eyes.

Swimming in Pools and the Sea – How to Protect Your Eyes from Infections

Summer and swimming go hand in hand. But your eyes are vulnerable in water. In pools, chlorine can irritate them; in the sea, it’s the salt; and in lakes, bacteria can be a risk – especially for contact lens wearers.

"Swimming and contact lenses don't go together. The safest approach is to remove your lenses before swimming or use daily disposables with swim goggles. This significantly reduces the risk of infection," warns Dr. Ďurkovič.

How to protect your eyes while swimming:

• If you wear contact lenses, remove them before swimming or use daily disposables and discard them afterwards.
• If you must swim with lenses, always wear swimming goggles to prevent eye contact with water.
• After swimming, rinse your eyes gently with clean water or use artificial tears.
• Avoid rubbing your eyes, especially if water may have entered.

Practical tip: If your eyes feel red or irritated after swimming, it could be conjunctivitis. If symptoms don't improve in 1–2 days, contact an eye doctor.

Air Conditioning – A Silent Enemy for Your Eyes in Summer

We spend more time in air-conditioned spaces during summer – in cars, offices, stores, and hotel rooms. While air conditioning cools the air, it also dries it out. This speeds up the evaporation of the tear film from the eye’s surface.

The result is dry eye syndrome – typical symptoms include burning, stinging, dryness, or even excessive tearing.

How to reduce the effects of air conditioning:

• Avoid sitting directly in the path of cold air flow.
• Set the AC to a mild difference from the outside temperature (ideally 5–6°C lower).
• Stay hydrated throughout the day.
• Use preservative-free artificial tears to keep the eye surface moist.

Practical tip: Every 20 minutes, take a short screen break, close your eyes briefly and blink consciously a few times. It helps restore your tear film.

Sun Allergies and Your Eyes – A Lesser-Known Problem

Sun allergies don’t just affect the skin. Eyes can also react with hypersensitivity to sunlight – symptoms include redness, itching, tearing, or swollen eyelids. This often occurs after prolonged sun exposure or in combination with wind and pollen.

How to relieve sun allergies in the eyes:

• Wear quality sunglasses that protect from the sides as well.
• Stay in the shade during peak sunlight hours (11:00 to 15:00).
• If you have a history of allergies, consult your doctor about using anti-allergy eye drops.

Practical tip: For mild symptoms, cool compresses can help soothe the irritation.

Hydration – A Lifesaver for Your Eyes in the Heat

In summer, the body loses more fluids, and this affects the quality of the tear film too. If you don’t drink enough, your eyes may become dry, irritated, or overly watery.

"Many people don’t realize that dry eye symptoms can be directly linked to dehydration. Simply drinking more water often makes a big difference," advises Dr. Ďurkovič.

How to hydrate your body – and your eyes – properly:

• Drink water regularly throughout the day.
• Include eye-friendly foods like blueberries, leafy greens, carrots, salmon, and walnuts in your diet.
• Avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol, which can dehydrate the body.

Practical tip: If your eyes still feel dry despite drinking enough, try lubricating eye drops and make sure you ventilate the spaces where you stay.

Enjoy Summer to the Fullest – with Healthy Eyes

Summer is the perfect time not just to relax, but also to take care of your vision. Many patients take advantage of having more free time during the holidays to get a preventive eye exam or even finally get rid of their glasses.

"The summer months are a great opportunity for an eye check-up or even surgery. Many patients enjoy freedom from glasses just days later – right in the middle of their vacation," says Dr. Ďurkovič.

At iClinic, we currently offer a limited-time summer discount on painless eye surgery, so you can enjoy better vision – and save.