If summer is your magic season and you love basking in the sun, UV protection is essential. More people have been diagnosed with skin cancer than all other cancers combined over the last three decades, and one in five American citizens will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Sporting high-quality eyewear is one of the many things you can do to protect yourself from harmful UV rays this summer.

Review five tips for protecting your skin and eyes:

• Wear a Hat: Protect your entire head from the sun with a broad-brimmed hat. Look for one with built-in UV protection, and wear it anytime you step outdoors. Broad-brimmed hats are the best because they protect the ears and neck, something baseball caps don’t do.

• Find the Right Eyewear: Purchase eyewear that blocks 99% or more of UVB and UVA rays. Wraparound sunglasses offer ideal sun protection because they filter out more visible light than standard options.

• Use UV-Protected Contact Lenses: Wear contact lenses featuring UV-blocking materials if applicable. These contact lenses filter UV rays and function as an additional layer of sun protection.

• Slather the Sunscreen: Apply sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB rays 30 minutes before you go out into the sun. Use sunscreen featuring a sun protection factor of at least 30, and reapply it after swimming or intense sweating.

• Make an Eye Exam Appointment: Schedule an eye exam with your local eye doctor to ensure your eyes are in good health and not suffering from any UV-related damage. Your eye doctor can also provide UV-blocking eyewear recommendations.

Discuss these and other summer sun protection tips with Dr. Ron Sealock. The renowned eye doctor proudly provides the Dothan, AL, area with a full range of eye care services, including eye exams and glaucoma screenings. Call (334) 793-9607 to schedule an appointment, or visit the website for more information. You can also like the eye doctor on Facebook for helpful tips.