The doctor talked about eye protection during the holidays

Vacations can bring not only pleasure, but also hidden threats to eye health. Salt water, strong ultraviolet radiation, and dust can cause discomfort, inflammation, and even serious damage to vision. On June 27, Anna Solovey, ophthalmologist at the 3Z clinic in Moscow, told Izvestia about how to maintain eye health during rest.

According to her, sand can cause scratches on the cornea or conjunctiva, opening the way for infections. Attempts to remove foreign bodies from the eyes on their own can make the situation worse.

In addition, do not forget about the chemical risks, the specialist added. Chlorinated water in swimming pools can cause irritation and break the protective tear film, which increases the likelihood of infection. It is especially dangerous to swim in natural reservoirs, where you can catch acanthamoebic keratitis, a disease caused by a single—celled organism that can lead to vision loss.

"The often underestimated danger of summer is aggressive ultraviolet radiation. Chronic exposure to UV rays without adequate protection is a direct path to the development of photokeratitis (corneal burn). The risk is especially high near water and in the mountains, but even in the city on sunny days, you should not neglect high—quality sunglasses with a good degree of protection and polarization," said Solovey.

Another problem you may encounter on vacation is dry eye syndrome. According to the doctor, heat, wind and air conditioners contribute to the evaporation of tear film, which causes discomfort and makes the eyes more vulnerable to infections. To protect your eyes during rest, Solovey recommended following the rules: avoid rubbing your eyes with dirty hands, use individual towels and swimming goggles when bathing, and wear sunglasses labeled UV 400.

It is important to remember that swimming in open waters with contact lenses is undesirable. If a person cannot give up lenses, it is necessary to use them only with tightly fitting swimming goggles and try to minimize eye contact with water.

"Summer threats to vision, from UV rays and sand to microorganisms and viruses in the water, are real but preventable. A conscious attitude to eye protection — using the right sunglasses and goggles for swimming, hygiene, as well as basic caution — is the key not only to a comfortable stay, but also to maintaining visual acuity for many years," the expert concluded.

Simplifying your vacation: New entry rules will be introduced in Thailand starting May 1

It will be mandatory to fill out an electronic migration card.

On May 18, Artyom Iskra, Managing Director of the retail insurance underwriting department at Renaissance Insurance, said that during a beach holiday, approximately 40% of tourists' requests for medical help are related to acute respiratory diseases such as acute respiratory viral infections, tonsillitis and otitis media. According to him, the main causes of these diseases are sudden temperature changes due to air conditioners, prolonged exposure to water, leading to hypothermia, as well as the rapid spread of infection between children who play and spend time together.