Gardening is fun and relaxing, and it’s easier when you can see clearly. Unfortunately, the great outdoors also contains a few threats to your vision. In this article, you’ll learn how to protect your eyes while you garden.
UV Protection Sunglasses
Sunlight helps your garden grow, but it can cause problems for your vision. The UV light can trigger both short- and long-term damage, which increases your risk of the following conditions:
- Cataracts. Cumulative UV damage can cloud the eye’s lens, leading to blurred vision and sensitivity to glare.
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration, or AMD. Years of exposure to UV light can also damage the retina, which causes central vision loss.
- Pterygium. Sometimes called surfer’s eye, this benign growth begins in the white of the eye and can spread to the cornea, interfering with eyesight. It can happen to anyone whose eyes are repeatedly exposed to UV light, not just surfers.
UV-protective sunglasses are the best option to protect your eyes from sunlight while gardening. Here’s what to look for:
- The label should say “100% UV protection” or “UV400.” This rating ensures that the lenses block UV rays up to 400 nanometers, which is the level needed to prevent damage. When browsing sunglass brands, be sure to look for ones that offer this protection.
- Make sure your glasses fit well and adequately cover your eyes. Regardless of rating, your sunglasses won’t provide much protection if they constantly slip down your nose or don’t extend far enough to block light from the sides. Styles with large or wraparound lenses frequently offer the best protection.
- Don’t make assumptions based on lens tint. Many people think that if sunglasses have a very dark tint, they provide more protection, but that isn’t always true. Check the label to be certain you’re protected.
- Choose amber or brown lenses. These are the most recommended options for gardening because they improve depth perception and contrast, allowing you to see green foliage, brightly colored flowers, and ripe fruits more easily.
- Consider polarization. Some sunglasses have polarized lenses, which reflect very bright light. These are good in high-glare situations, like those involving snow or water. However, they can alter depth perception and usually aren’t necessary for gardening unless you deal with a lot of glare from a greenhouse.
- Make sure the sunglasses you choose are comfortable. Again, they can’t protect your eyes if you don’t wear them because they’re too tight, squeeze your nose awkwardly, or have uncomfortable nose pads. This guide goes more into why the nose pads on your glasses might bother you.
What About Allergies?
Gardening can bring you a lot of joy. You get to be out in the sun, tending to your plants and watching them grow. But unfortunately, pollen, mold, and other allergens also enjoy being outside and can float into your eyes and nose, causing that itchy feeling.
There’s more bad news: Rubbing your eyes (like when they itch from all that pollen) can be bad for them. The pressure from eye rubbing can damage the eye in several ways:
- You could accidentally scratch your cornea. This can lead to severe pain or a feeling like sand or grit is stuck in your eye.
- Your fingers could introduce germs, leading to an infection. Even though you may wear gardening gloves, pathogens like bacteria and fungi can easily live inside them and transfer to your hands.
- Remember those allergens in the air? They’re probably on your hands, too, and rubbing your eyes will just introduce more of them.
- Rubbing also stimulates the production of histamine, which can make your itchy eyes even worse.
- Over time, frequent rubbing can damage the cornea or change its shape, which puts you at risk of vision loss.
- Excessive rubbing can even sometimes lead to nearsightedness or astigmatism by causing keratoconus, or a corneal bulge. When this occurs, the cornea’s shape changes, impacting how well you can see.
- In rare cases, rubbing your eyes too hard could cause a retinal tear or detachment, which requires prompt medical intervention.
So, What Can You Do About Itchy Eyes Besides Rubbing Them?
There are several strategies to use to reduce allergies and itchy eyes:
- When you’re not outside gardening, keep your doors and windows closed so you don’t deal with constant exposure to outdoor allergens.
- Those UV-blocking sunglasses can also block some allergens from making their way into your eyes, especially if you use a wraparound style that blocks your eyes from the sides, too.
- Change your clothes immediately after you come inside from gardening, so you’re not breathing in more allergens from outside.
- Talk to your doctor about prescription allergy medications if the over-the-counter options aren’t working well for you.
- When your eyes feel itchy, try using antihistamine eye drops as an alternative to rubbing them. Eye drops like Pataday or Lastacaft can provide 24 hours of relief from itching, reducing the urge to rub your eyes.
- If you don’t have antihistamine drops on hand, using basic lubrication drops will at least flush some of the allergens out of your eyes and help reduce itching.
FAQs
Q: Do I still need to wear sunglasses on gray or cloudy days? What about in the fall and winter months?
A: Yes. It’s best to wear sunglasses any time you’re outside during daylight, even if it’s gray, cloudy, or cold. It may not feel like summer, but if it’s light out, UV rays are potentially damaging your eyes.
Q: What about my eyeglass prescription? I can’t see without it.
A: You have several options:
- You can order prescription sunglasses, which is often the best solution. Your prescription is built into the lenses, so you can see normally. Online eyewear retailer EZContacts offers a wide selection of customizable prescription sunglasses in a variety of frame styles and lens options.
- Some people buy clip-on or magnetic sunglasses to put over their regular glasses, but these can be a hassle and don’t always stay on well. They also won’t provide as much protection as wraparound sunglasses because they only cover the front of the glasses.
- You can also choose photochromic lenses the next time you buy new glasses. These adjust to your lighting situation, growing darker in bright light and lighter in dim light.
- If you wear contacts, you can buy ones with UV-blocking, but keep in mind that these only protect the irises and not the whole eye. It’s still best to wear sunglasses over your contacts.
