Optician explains when you should seek medical attention if you get sun cream in your eyes
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The Skin Cancer Foundation states that you should protect your eyes from sun damage by using suncream around your eyes, but what should you do if you get suncream in your eyes? Tina Patel, optician at Feel Good Contacts explains:
What are the health risks of getting sun cream in your eyes?
Getting suncream in your eyes is unlikely to cause permanent damage. But it will cause a burning sensation. This is because the chemicals in suncream will irritate the tear layer in your eye and cause a shift in pH levels.
Do you need to put sun cream on your eyelids?
Yes. It is important to apply sun cream to all areas of skin that are exposed to UV and that includes your eyelids. It should be applied with care. The skin around your eyes is more sensitive than other areas of the face and body (it’s the first area to show fine lines and wrinkles) so use the ring finger to apply the cream and never rub.
What’s the best way to get suncream out of your eyes?
The best way to remove suncream from your eyes is to use an eye wash, saline or preservative-free eye drops to flush out any of the suncream. Remember to wash your hands first, remove your contact lenses if you are wearing them. Rinse your eyes immediately, ideally with a preservative-free saline. If you do not have access to preservative-free eye drops or saline, then you can use clean running water. Finally, if the discomfort persists or you experience severe pain or your vision is affected, seek medical attention.
Other ways to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays
Although it’s important to wear SPF, sunscreen should not be your only line of defence – broad-brimmed hats and UV-blocking sunglasses help shade the face and keep sun out of your eyes. Finally seek shade where possible and avoid the sun at its hottest point of the day.
