Caring For Your Eyes While Travelling

Regardless of whether you're travelling for work or pleasure, and whether your idea of a perfect vacation is a luxury suite or a sleeping bag under the stars, it is important to take care of your eyes.

Flying can be tricky because of the dry environment in airplanes. If you wear contact lenses, particularly if you are on a longer flight, it is a good idea to wear glasses for the duration of the flight to avoid irritating your eyes.

Many holidays involve travelling to sunnier destinations than the UK. While some forgo sunscreen in pursuit of a little extra colour on these trips, all should take precautions to protect their eyes from the sun with a pair of sunglasses with proper UV protection. This doesn’t just apply to those visiting summer beach locales – ski vacations also necessitate proper eye protection, as the sun reflects off the white snow. In addition, just as skin can burn on seemingly cloudy days, so can eyes be damaged, so don’t save your shades for bluebird days on the slopes.

Camping trips can present unique challenges for eye care, as a result of the lack of hygiene often associated with a few days – or weeks – spent in the wilderness. If you are a contact lens wearer, consider speaking with your optometrist about getting daily lenses to last you for the duration of the trip. This will minimise the amount of dirt that your lenses get exposed to. If late nights around the campfire are part of your camping agenda, seat yourself away from the smoke, or switch to glasses in the evening, as smoke can irritate eyes. In addition, be sure to bring along a compact mirror and plenty of hand sanitizer, to ensure that lens application is as hygienic as possible. If you do wear glasses, bring along your prescription sunglasses as well as plenty of lens cleaner.

Travelling often involves long days, be it late parties, early train rides, or long lines and aggressive agendas. While you are out of your routine, be careful not to wear your contact lenses longer than you should. This may mean keeping your lenses out until lunch, or switching to glasses mid-day.

In general, make sure that you are fully prepared before you travel – be aware of liquid restrictions if you are flying carry-on and have solution or lens cleaner, and bring a pair of extra contact lenses even if you are not due to change yours until after the trip is finished. Even if you are a full-time contact lens wearer, throw in a pair of glasses just in case. In a new environment, you may find that you are allergic to part of your surroundings, and contact lenses do not help ease irritated and itchy eyes.