Enjoying the summer even if the eyes cannot appreciate all the beauty of the places one goes to. Learning to make good use of the residual visual capacity and above all following some precautions that can help those suffering from age-related macular degeneration to experience the summer with more tranquility. Retina in Health asked Dr. Luca Di Antonio, 1st level medical director, UOC of Ophthalmology, Asl-1 Abruzzo (Avezzano-Sulmona-L’Aquila) to indicate six rules for safe holidays.
What should you pay attention to if you go on holiday to the sea or if you go to the mountains instead?
“There are no particular differences between sea and mountains, the common denominator is the harmful effect of long and continuous exposure to sunlight, so it is advisable to use protective goggles against ultraviolet rays together with a therapy with supplements to based on lutein and astaxanthin which minimize retinal oxidative stress “.
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What characteristics must sunglasses have that really protect against UV rays?
“Currently, the ocular structures can be protected through the use of filter lenses. The latter have the ability to block both ultraviolet rays (type A and B) and blue radiation, which are highly harmful to our eyes. The requirements for excellent ocular protection are made up of lenses capable of eliminating all ultraviolet rays and also blue-violet ones between 400 and 430 nanometers wavelength. Greater protection is offered by the use of polarized lenses. The latter improve visual performance, amplifying contrast sensitivity and color vision, reducing both glare and distorted vision of images and ensuring less fatigue to the eye. Prolonged use can be a limit when using LCD and LED screens (for example, PCs, tablets and smartphones), which would determine a poor quality of vision. It is also advisable for contact lens wearers to use lenses with a built-in UV filter of class I or II ”.
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In addition to protecting yourself from the sun, are there other precautions to take, such as what to eat and drink?
“In the summer, a healthy Mediterranean diet with seasonal fruit and vegetables (in particular those containing carotenoids), together with adequate hydration and additional integration with the main minerals, can be a simple and healthy remedy for ocular homeostasis”.
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Detachment of the retina occurs more frequently in the summer: why? what to advise to prevent it?
“Retinal detachment is one of the causes of blindness, especially in those with high myopia. A fundamental role in its pathogenesis is played by the vitreous body. The alterations of its trophism lead early to alterations such as the detachment of the vitreous which is considered as the “primum movens” in the genesis of retinal detachment. An adequate hydration, together with the integration with mineral salts, collagen and glycosaminoglycans, allows to maintain a correct homeostasis of the vitreous gel ”.
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In addition to computers, smartphones, Ipads and halogen lamps, blue light is also emitted by the sun: can it reach the retina and damage it or is there not this risk?
“Blue light, as well as from commonly used electro-digital devices, is also present in solar radiation. There are two types: turquoise blue light which appears to be harmless. Ultraviolet blue light, on the other hand, is harmful to the retina, as it damages the cells of the retinal pigment epithelium by causing inflammation by releasing free radicals. This last process would determine a further oxidative stress which underlies the pathogenetic mechanism of macular degeneration “.
In the summer, dry eye sufferers see symptoms worsen. How can you find relief?
“Patients suffering from the so-called dry eye during the summer period could experience further ocular discomfort by virtue of the fact that the high seasonal temperatures would cause a more rapid evaporation and therefore a further alteration of the tear film. In these cases, a therapy with latest generation tear substitutes would limit the unpleasant and amplified symptoms “.
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