Dry eye is a very uncomfortable condition that can seriously impact your quality of life. It can destroy your quality of life. So, it’s imperative to understand if it could be to blame for your discomfort. You may feel discomfort, irritation, or itchiness in your eye. You may have blurred vision, filmy eyes, or redness in your eye. These symptoms can occur with or without pain.
If you are planning to travel this holiday season, taking extra precautions is important to keep yourself from developing dry eyes. Dry eye occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears—although this can happen for various reasons. Mild to moderate dry eye can often be managed by eye drops, but severe cases may require surgery, medication, or lifestyle changes.
Here are things to do to prevent dry eye when traveling
Drink plenty of water
Dry eyes are no fun! They can cause a lot of discomfort, especially during air travel, known for being dry. But you can prevent the discomfort and eye fatigue associated with dry eyes by drinking plenty of water before, during, and after your flight.
A dry eye is common when traveling due to reduced humidity in the air. Carry a water bottle with you wherever you go, and drink as much water as possible during the day. Water will lubricate the tear film in the eyes, helping to prevent dry eyes.
Wear your glasses
If you plan a trip soon, you probably dread the inevitable watering eyes when you fly. First, the dry air in airplane cabins dries out your eyes, and that causes uncomfortable irritation. Second, the fluorescent lighting in the cabin can further irritate your eyes and make your vision blurry. Try wearing your glasses to avoid this and everything else that could make your trip miserable. Glasses with anti-glare coatings can help your eyes feel comfortable traveling to your destination.
Wear a sleep mask
Travelling can disrupt sleep in many ways, but the dry eye is the most common. The dryness results from decreased lubrication, which results in irritation and redness. At its worst, dry eye can seriously impact the quality of your sleep. Wearing a sleep mask can help prevent this since it helps to retain moisture in your eyelids. A sleep mask is an easy way to prevent dry eyes while on the go.
Traveling can be fun, but it can quickly become frustrating if you’re prone to dry eyes. And, if you’re constantly rubbing your eyes to keep them moist, you risk irritating them even more. That’s why it’s important to pack a sleep mask in your travel bag—to help prevent eye irritation and dryness when you’re on the go.
Use hydrating eye drops.
When traveling, you’ll inevitably be exposed to dry, hot, or smoky air, resulting in uncomfortable symptoms like dry eye. But you can fight back with hydrating eye drops. Try eye drops if your eyes feel itchy, burning, or teary. They have a special lubricating formula to soothe your eyes and help reduce irritation and redness. And, since they’re used regularly, hydrating eye drops are an affordable and convenient way to keep your peepers feeling fresh. You can check out clinical trials for dry eye at Power if you’re looking for additional treatment options for dry eyes.
Don’t use contact lenses when traveling.
Contact lenses can encapsulate air, which makes your eyes feel dry and irritated. So, it’s best to wear glasses on long flights and wait until you arrive at your destination to put them in. Many people wear contact lenses, which can make dry eye worse. As you travel, your dry eye symptoms may be worse. So, it’s important to know your options for reducing dry eye symptoms.
Artificial tears
If you’ve traveled long distances, you know fully well what discomfort dry eyes can bring. Dry eyes are a common problem, especially in people who spend a lot of time reading and on computers. But there is a way to take the sting out of dry, uncomfortable eyes, and that solution is artificial tears.
Artificial tears are eye drops used to alleviate dry eyes and lubricate your eyes. They come in small tubes and can be purchased at most pharmacies, and you can keep a tube in your carry-on bag. Just roll the tubes up and tuck them in your purse or pocket.
Artificial tears are a topical medication used to help lubricate, reduce irritation, and ease symptoms of dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome is a condition in which the eyes do not produce enough tears to lubricate the eye properly. Chronic dry conditions can lead to severe eye irritation and discomfort.