There are a lot of things to worry about when traveling. From natural disasters to theft, you should always be prepared for the worst when you’re on vacation. However, there’s one thing most people don’t think about: damage to their eyes.
Protecting your eyes from damage and strain while traveling is a fairly straightforward process, but one that is easy to ignore. You do not want to find out about short or long term eye health issues and vision problems until you have it too late to do anything about it. To protect your vision, it’s important to take preventative steps to keep your eyes healthy.
Here in this post, you will learn how you can protect your eyes while traveling
Eat a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet is important at all times, but it’s especially important when you’re traveling. The air quality in planes and cars isn’t always ideal, so make sure to consume plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to help keep your immune system strong.
Drink Plenty of Water
When you’re traveling by plane or car, make sure not to get dehydrated. Not only will this make you feel tired and sluggish, but it can also cause dryness in your eyes. Try drinking plenty of water before and during the trip so that your body can stay hydrated throughout the journey.
Wear Prescription Safety Glasses
This is the most important tip for protecting your eyes on the road. If you wear prescription glasses or contact lenses, make sure you bring along a pair of safety glasses. If you don’t normally wear glasses, buy a pair of prescription safety glasses for your trip. They can be purchased at most drugstores and many hardware stores.
Wash Your Hands Regularly
You may have heard that washing your hands frequently helps prevent colds and other illnesses, but did you know it can also help protect against eye infections? Bacteria from contaminated surfaces can travel into the eyes through touch or contact with another person’s hand. By washing your hands often, even when you don’t think you need to, you can limit exposure to these harmful bacteria.
Use Eye Drops For Dry Eye
Dry eye is a condition that causes the eyes to feel dry and uncomfortable. It can occur when the tears aren’t enough or if the tears are not of the right consistency.
The best way to combat dry eye is by using eye drops. They have different formulas for different types of dry eyes, such as artificial tears or lubricants, preservatives and even anti-inflammatory drugs. The one thing they all have in common is that they contain water, which helps moisturize your eyes.
Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes
“It’s tempting to rub your eyes when they feel tired or scratchy,” said Dr. William Kwan, an optometrist in Los Angeles who specializes in treating dry eyes and other eye conditions caused by computer use or other factors such as allergies and medication side effects. “But doing so can spread germs around your eye area.” Instead of rubbing, wash your hands thoroughly and use a clean tissue to wipe away any dirt or debris that might be irritating your eyes.
Conclusion
These tips will help you protect your eyes while you’re traveling, or at least provide some good general advice in case you have any eye issues while traveling. Hopefully it will be useful. Stay safe and enjoy!