Nothing ruins a vacation more than a nagging, uncomfortable health condition that keeps you bed bound rather than beach bound. We stock our travel bags with aspirin for migraines, ibuprofen for cramps, and antacids for indigestion, but tend to overlook the necessary precautions to protect the health of our eyes while vacationing. Whether you’re planning for a tropical getaway or a ski slope siesta, you don’t want to spoil a minute of fun with dry, burning eyes or blurred vision…and you certainly don’t want to ruin the look of your new lash extensions! Breeze through the following tips to make sure you’re well prepared to keep your beautiful peepers shining on holiday.
Fun in the Sun and Snow
UV rays don’t just damage your skin. The sun can cause short-term vision problems in the form of irritation, redness, hypersensitivity to light, swelling and sun-burnt eyes. Fail to protect your eyes on a regular basis and you’re looking at long-term damage such as cataracts, macular degeneration, abnormal growths of the eyelid and cancer of the eye.
Protection is easy. Invest in a pair of 100% broad-spectrum sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays. Don’t be deceived by sunglass shade—dark lens don’t mean the glasses are any more protective. Wrap around shades are the most effective, as they block the sun from every angle.
Hitting the slopes? You still need a pair of sports sunglasses protecting your baby blues. The sun’s rays sneak through clouds, and the higher the altitude and more reflective the surface (think snow), the more intense the UV penetration. Sunglasses also protect from sand, wind and dust, regardless of climate. Make it a habit to wear sunglasses daily, whether you’re vacationing or not!
Ward Off Dry Eye
Traveling is hard on the eyes. The heating and cooling systems in airplanes and hotels suck moisture from the air and dry out your eyes. When packing for a flight (or even a road trip), be sure to include preservative-free artificial tears or a rewetting solution in order to moisten your eyes throughout the flight. Avoid eye drops that contain preservatives, as they cause your blood vessels to constrict. Tears evaporate rapidly in low-humidity climates, so you’ll want to have those drops handy in arid environments like deserts and windy environments like mountains.
If you are swimming in chlorinated pools, keep your hands away from your eyes. The chlorine chemicals will irritate and exacerbate dry eyes. If you are particularly susceptible, wear some fancy goggles during your swim.
Don’t go overboard on the AC. Lower the air, especially when you’re sleeping, so you don’t wake up to itchy, dry eyes that can’t handle your fancy new eyeliner and mascara. And always remove your contact lenses when sleeping. If the lenses dry out, they can stick to the corneas and peel off tissue when you finally remove them! Sleeping in your eye makeup? That’s a no-no, ladies! Swipe off your eye makeup with Glad Lash Oil-Free Makeup Remover Wipes.
Vacationing can be hard on your body overall. Be sure to fortify with nutritious foods, a multivitamin and an omega-3 supplement. Loading up on omega-3—also found in oily, coldwater fish such as salmon and tuna—helps snuff out inflammation and protects against eye irritation.
