Travel and Eye Health Guide (2024)

This spring is the right time to book a trip somewhere nice with the people you love the most in order to spend some time together, embarking on new adventures. There are so many  classic vacation destinations full of fun and excitement that you can choose from, according to your needs and your preferences.

Of course, traveling is an amazing experience, but it’s very important to prepare yourself properly and take the best care of your vision while traveling. There are many different circumstances that can affect your eyes and ruin your trip. From long flights to different climates and environments, your eyes may be subjected to a variety of stressors during your travels.

So, it’s important to take the best care of yourself and your eyes, to experience the trip as carefreely as possible.

Read below and let’s explore a travel and eye health guide that includes every essential tip!

1. Protect your eyes from the sun

One of the biggest threats to your eye health while traveling is exposure to the sun. Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation can lead to a variety of eye problems, including cataracts, macular degeneration, and corneal sunburn. To protect your eyes, wear sunglasses that block entirely UV rays, and a hat or visor to shade your face. If you’re traveling to a sunny destination, consider packing a backup pair of sunglasses, just in case you lose or break your primary pair.

2. Visit an eye doctor

Moreover, before embarking on your travels, it’s important to visit an eye doctor to examine your eye health. This will ensure that your eyes are healthy and that your glasses or contact lens prescription is up to date. Your eye doctor can also provide you with recommendations for protecting your eyes while traveling, such as specific types of sunglasses or contact lenses that are designed for outdoor activities.

If you’re experiencing any eye problems during your trip, such as blurry vision, eye pain, or redness, it’s important to seek medical attention right away.

3. Stay hydrated

Of course, there is nothing more important while traveling than being hydrated. Long flights and traveling in general, can be dehydrating, which can cause dry eyes and discomfort. To keep your eyes hydrated, drink plenty of water throughout your trip. You can also use artificial tears or lubricating eye drops to keep your eyes moist and comfortable. If you wear contact lenses, make sure to bring enough contact lens solution and rewetting drops with you, and remove your contacts and clean them as directed.

4. Take breaks from screen time

 Last but not least, whether you’re traveling for work or pleasure, you may find yourself staring at screens for extended periods of time, such as during long flights or train rides. This can cause eye strain, headaches, and dry eyes. Is tech tiring your eyes? Take the strain out of your screen time with some useful tips, such as taking regular breaks from screens, and practicing the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away.