Photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

While drinking a minimum of two litres of water a day is a boost to over-all health, doing so is excellent in preventing eye irritation and dryness; more so when one finds it still is difficult to resist coffee even during the soaring summer heat.

The tip is from Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai ophthalmologist Dr Abu Gurbaxani who specializes in Medical Retina and Uveitis.

Medical Retina concerns the conditions at the back of the eye which may call for diabetic eye screening. Uveitis is the inflammation of the uvea or eye wall whose signs and symptoms are pain, redness and blurred vision.

Gurbaxani shared other ways of eye care for the summer, saying that temperatures from 48 degrees Celsius result in “corneal burns,” the medical jargon of which is Photokeratitis.

Otherwise known as sunburned eyes, Photokeratitis is painful and caused by the ultraviolet rays.

No doubt that the sun is the free source of Vitamin D. But then the sun too “accelerates the aging process of the eyes causing cataracts and macular degeneration.”

When both are neglected, cataracts and macular degeneration leads to blindness.

“Therefore, it is extremely important to take the necessary precautions while enjoying summer activities in the sun,” said Gurbaxani, pointing out that the best shield against the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun is a “medical grade tinted sunglasses that can 100 per cent block the UV rays.”

For Gurbaxani, much as swimming is synonymous to summer fun, better to wear goggles and store away the eye contact lenses before diving into the swimming pool or dip in the sea or ocean.

He explained: “Pools are often disinfected with sanitizers such as chlorine. Thus, using goggles can protect your eyes from coming in contact with potent sanitizers and reduce the likelihood of contracting an eye infection such as conjunctivitis (sore eyes), which leaves the surface of the eyes red and dry.”

Another reason for the goggles is the presence of innumerable microbes such as the Acanthameoba is in both swimming pools and “beach water which can result in infections in the eyes and severe complications.”

On the contact lenses, he said: “Swimming with contacts can have high-threatening effects such as ulcers and infections.”

On coffee, summer and eye irritation as well as dryness, he said: “Dehydration is a leading cause of dry eyes and irritation. Considering that the summer heat can make (one) lose more water through sweat, we need to drink more water to compensate for this loss.