July 26, 2023 – Summertime is a season of relaxation and fun, vacations, summer camp, and family outings. However, many summertime favorites like swimming may pose safety dangers, particularly to the eyes and ears.
Usiwoma Abugo, MD, a Norfolk, Virginia-based ophthalmologist and a representative for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, tells the tale of "Linda," a 16-year-old who just saw her because her right eye was red, inflamed, and excruciatingly painful in the sun. Linda had no history of trauma and had never experienced anything like this (Abugo modified the patient's name and identifying details to preserve her privacy). She was also free of any infections that would have caused these symptoms.
"We found that she had a corneal ulcer," Abugo said. "We stained the eye with a special dye that picks up defects on the surface of the eye."
Linda often used contact lenses, but she was unable to insert them because of the discomfort in her right eye. She admitted to Abugo that she sometimes went swimming while wearing her contacts since she is "blind without them."
According to Abugo, swimming while using contact lenses is risky. On the lenses, bacteria can develop and lead to dangerous illnesses. To determine what organism was causing the issue, Linda required additional testing.
She had to put in eyedrops every hour until progress was noticed due to a central corneal ulcer that threatened her vision, and she had to visit the clinic every day to make sure she was improving—or, more crucially, not deteriorating.
In the end, Linda developed a scar through a portion of her visual axis. In order to recover her vision, "further thought is being given to whether she will need a corneal transplant," Abugo added.
If contact lenses had not been used while swimming, this damage would have been avoided. If you can afford them, wear prescription goggles instead, said Abugo.
Caring for the Eyes During Summertime
In a recent study, patterns of online searches for eye symptoms like redness, dryness, pinkeye, and pain were examined. The results were published in the August issue of Ophthalmic Epidemiology. From January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019, the researchers examined publicly accessible Google Trends data from the United States. 45% of the searchers displayed seasonal tendencies. For instance, searches for eye redness peaked in the spring, which the authors speculate may be related to the season when allergies are at their worst. They suggested that eye trauma might be related to the summertime spike in searches for eye discomfort.
Eye injuries are frequently caused by fireworks, according to Abugo. Make sure you leave the handling of fireworks to specialists, she advised. "Fireworks are beautiful but can also be blinding due to eye rupture, surface scratches, and burns," she said.
Wear eye protection if you're among fireworks, even if you're just a spectator, she advised.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology advises keeping at least 150 feet away from aerial fireworks and 35 feet away from ground-based ones.
When you're outside, Abugo advises wearing sunglasses that completely block out ultraviolet rays. The best method to avoid future eye issues, such as cataracts or eye growth, is to do this.
She claimed that when sunlight reflects off highly reflective materials like water and sand (or, in the winter, ice and snow), "the sun's UV rays burn the surface of the eye, causing pain, redness, blurriness, and even temporary vision loss." Wearing the appropriate sunglasses and a broad-rimmed hat for added eye protection can help, she added.
Wear appropriate protective eyewear whenever you engage in any type of physical activity, including sports, gardening, or home maintenance. Abugo claimed that although more than half of all eye injuries take place at home, just one in three people really use eye protection when they should.
Protecting Children’s Eyes
According to Abugo, there are some "stunning statistics" on eye injuries in kids under 18, many of which are related to fireworks. But all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are another offender in addition to summer fireworks. Children under the age of 16 account for 30% or more of ATV accident hospitalizations, which can include everything from eyelid cuts and fractures to permanent blindness due to damage to the optic nerve. Because of these concerns, she emphasized that everyone operating an ATV, but especially kids, must wear protective glasses and helmets.
Everyone, regardless of age, should be wearing 100% UV-protected sunglasses, sunscreen, and hats whenever they're outdoors, she said, despite the "common misconception that babies and young children don't need to wear sunglasses yet."
The Sounds of Summer
The summer presents a variety of difficulties that might harm the ears, according to Jennifer Schumacher, a doctor of audiology and manager of medical communications at a firm that manufactures hearing aids.
Noise is one of the most typical risks, she noted. This includes the sound of fireworks, as well as the sound from outdoor concerts and music festivals, which are more frequent in the summer and often feature extremely loud music.
"Listening to sounds that are not only above a certain threshold of loudness — typically regarded as around 85 decibels — but also last for a long time, which is what happens during a music festival, can permanently damage your hearing," the expert said. Damage may not manifest right away but might build up over time. "Overall, we're seeing young people — even as young as teenagers — developing noise-induced hearing loss," she said.
She suggests putting earplugs in. She explained that certain kinds of earplugs, which are the most accessible, may be found at any neighborhood pharmacy and come with instructions on how to properly insert them.
But since most of these earplugs are made of foam, they may muffle or distort music while making loud noises safer. The purpose of attending a performance is defeated if you listen to muffled or distorted music, according to Schumacher, because the music is less enjoyable.
She suggested purchasing earplugs that are specially fitted to fit your ears. Although the overall volume is decreased, neither the frequency nor the sound quality are affected.
She admitted that these earplugs, which may be obtained from an audiologist, an ENT, or occasionally a hospital, "aren't cheap," but they're worthwhile if you want to protect your hearing and listen to music at the same time.
Ear Care in Water and Air
According to Schumacher, swimming can be dangerous for the ears. One is swimmer's ear, which is typically a bacterial infection in the ear canal or outer ear (although it can also be brought on by a fungus). The ear may itch, there may be discomfort (often severe), there may be hearing loss (sound may seem muted), or there may be fluid or pus pouring from the ear.
A person may develop a bone growth in the ear canal from repetitive and extended exposure to cold water, which is a less common ailment known as surfer's ear.
The ailment is often associated with surfers since they frequently swim in cold water throughout the year, but it can also affect other people and happen in the summer, according to Schumacher.
Although over-the-counter earplugs made for swimming can work, she advised getting earplugs made specifically for your ears if you're particularly prone to ear infections or swim frequently. These are not the same as earplugs made to lower noise levels. Instead, they are made expressly to safeguard the ears when submerged in water. Additionally, ENTs, hospitals, and audiologists may sell them to you.
The ears might have a difficult time when flying, especially during takeoff and landing. According to Schumacher, "Air pressure changes with changes in altitude." The eustachian tubes in the ears, which extend from the eardrum into the throat, are responsible for balancing that pressure. However, if that doesn't happen, the ears could feel unpleasant or congested.
You can equalize the pressure by moving your jaw while yawning, swallowing, chewing gum, or sucking on a piece of candy. You could occasionally hear a "pop," which is the eustachian tube expanding and balancing the pressure in your middle ear. That ought to be sufficient for most people, according to Schumacher.
She advises using special earplugs called EarPlanes, which are made specifically for this purpose, if those jaw movements don't help. They are available online, frequently at gift shops at airports, and at pharmacies.
In the event that neither of these options is effective, you can speak with a physician who may suggest or prescribe a nasal spray or other medication.
According to Schumacher, problems with altitude might arise not just when flying but also when ascending mountains. "If you're adjusting your altitude, pause, take rests, and wiggle your jaw. Additionally, giving EarPlanes a shot won't harm. The pressure should hopefully equalize as you get used to the altitude, and you won't feel any more discomfort.
People who are deep-sea or scuba diving may also experience ear barotrauma as a result of the pressure shifts. She recommended him to work with a diving instructor who was highly qualified and experienced so that he could prevent harm to his ears and other body parts.
You may assist ensure that you have a safe summer filled with lovely long-term memories by taking a few easy but thorough precautions.
~Protecting Your Eyes and Ears During the Summertime
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