Hotter temperatures, higher UV indexes and wildfire smoke are presenting risks to our eye health and even more so for seniors.

That’s partly because they may already be dealing with age-related conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Dr. David Plemel, an eye surgeon who is a member of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society shares the impacts of wildfire smoke here.

“Exposure to wildfire smoke, it’s an irritant and it’s also an allergen so having wildfire smoke can lead to irritation, redness, a burning sensation or even a dryness in the eyes in people who are experiencing severe symptoms of it. It can even exasperate existing eye conditions like dry eye or conjunctivitis and this can lead to blurring or decreased vision.”

Plemel said symptoms will typically disappear once the smoke dissipates but, if that’s not the case, he recommends a visit to your eye care professional.

Short term, he advises staying indoors with doors and windows closed if there is smoke in the area, using air filters in your home, and using lubricating eye drops to help with dry and irritated eyes.

For more on how to protect your vision during the summer months, catch Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.