It isn’t summer without a trip to the beach – the sun, the surf, the sand. Life doesn’t get much better – until a gust of wind blows sand right into your eyes. Don’t let a little sand ruin your day! Here’s a step-by-step guide to safely get it out.
Keep calm and blink
First things first: keep calm. Resist the urge to rub your eyes. This can cause irritation or even scratch your cornea. Instead, try blinking rapidly to encourage tears: they are your body’s way of flushing out sand and other particles. If you’re wearing contacts, make sure to remove them gently.
Flush with water or saline
Still feeling the grit? Use fresh water or a sterile saline solution to gently rinse the sand away. Your local community pharmacy has eye baths and saline solutions for situations just like this.
Use eye drops
Next time you head to the beach, pop some lubricating eye drops in your beach bag. They can help soothe irritated eyes. Your community pharmacist can help by recommending the best product for your needs. If you wear contacts, get pharmacist advice before self-selecting eye drops.
Your community pharmacist can do more
If irritation persists, or you experience severe pain, redness or blurred vision, it is time to seek professional help. Your community pharmacist can advise on treatment to manage these conditions. They can also advise if you should see a doctor for more specialist treatment or further evaluation.
Prevention is better than the Cure
Prevention is the key to enjoying a trouble-free day at the beach. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sand and the sun. If you’re particularly prone to eye irritation, consider wearing wrap-around sunglasses for extra protection. You can pick up a pair of UV-rated sunglasses at your local community pharmacy.
Enjoy the sun, surf, and sand – without the irritation. Don’t forget to check out our blog on sun safety. Remember, your community pharmacist can do more for you than dispense medications – they’re here to help make sure summer is smooth sailing for you and your family!
