Eye Care & Eyewear : Tips to keep in mind while travelling
When travelling we make a checklist of everything to ensure that we do not miss out on any important detail. Tickets. Check. Passport. Check. Toiletries. Check. Clothes. Check. But, are we as careful when it comes to packing for our eyes? Do we make a list of do’s and don’t for keeping our eyes healthy when travelling? The most common answer would be a resounding NO!
Research shows that 75% of Indians surveyed reported having plans to travel internationally in the foreseeable future. After being homebound for two years and the travel industry undergoing a major slump during this time, this is great news for World Tourism Day. But as we satisfy our wanderlust and answer the call of far- away places, it is important to take care of our eyes to truly appreciate the beauty around us and take in all the wonderful sights we see.
This World Tourism Day, here are tips to take care of your eyes as you set out to explore the world:
PREPARATION IS THE KEY
DO's
It’s said that prevention is better than cure and it can’t hold truer for getting your eyes examined especially before a long duration trip. A timely and thorough eye examination can help detect serious problems like diabetes, high blood cholesterol, and eye diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration in the early stages, preventing serious complications from cropping up while travelling. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends talking to your ophthalmologist about your travel plans if you have had any kind of eye surgery.
After taking an examination, ask your optometrist for a prescription that you can carry along with you on your travels. This allows you to buy your prescription glasses and contact lenses without the hassle of getting your eyes checked again. This takes us to the next very important item on our to-do list.
If you carry a spare set of prescription glasses, contact lenses, and sunglasses, you probably wouldn’t face a difficult situation where you need to replace them while travelling, especially if eyewear and eye-care is more expensive in the country of travel. So, even if you lose a pair while rock climbing or partying, you always have a backup ready. Better safe than sorry!
If you are prone to allergies; itchy eyes, runny nose, or sneezing, remember to get yourself checked and carry your allergy medications. Sudden climate change can trigger a violent bout of allergy leaving you with redness, itchiness and watering in the eyes. Carry your eye medication and drops to prevent problems like allergic conjunctivitis which can cause your eyes to become sore and inflamed.
You would take off your glasses and sunglasses at some point in time while travelling. So, another travel-friendly eye tip is to invest in a good case for your glasses. Keep your glasses safe as you snooze on the flight or the hotel and rest without worrying about breaking or crushing them accidentally.
Carry a pair of swimming goggles to enjoy as your gear for a swim in the swimming pool or the sea. Without these, chlorine from the pool and sand from the beach can cause serious eye infections.
DONT's
To protect your eyes while travelling do not ignore any vision symptoms just because they are painless. Symptoms like blurred vision may seem harmless, but ignoring it and getting your eyes checked when at an unknown destination can prove to be more painful, not to forget costly.
Sunglasses don’t only make you look stylish, they also protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and glaring sunlight; factors that cause sunburn and damage your vision. A key travel tip to keep your eyes healthy is not to forget to carry and wear your sunglasses whenever needed.
While cutting no corners in our stay and food, we tend to compromise on the quality of the sunglasses we purchase, treating them more like an accessory than an important requirement for eye safety while travelling. To take care of your eyes when on a holiday, invest in and buy a good pair of sunglasses. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, you should buy glasses that are 100% UV-resistant. The term “polarised” means they cut glare, not UV rays. AAO also recommends buying sunglasses that are large enough to provide full coverage.
CONTACT LENS RULES
DO's
Travellers wearing contact lenses can prevent the contact lenses from getting damaged by carrying a contact- case as well as a contact solution to keep them fresh and moist.
If you plan to catch a nap on the flight, make sure to take off your contact lenses and store them properly, as sleeping with contact lenses may irritate and get stuck inside the eyes.
A smart tip for keeping your eyes healthy during a trip is to replace your contact lenses as often as recommended by your eye care provider.
DONT's
Your contact lenses need to rest as much as your eyes do. So don’t wear them as you sleep or shower exposing yourself to painful eye infections in the process.
If you have allergies, avoid wearing contact lenses when travelling.
A serious reminder to keep your eyes healthy during a trip would be to never use plain water to clean your contacts. Water in taps is not sterile and will not protect microorganisms and bacteria from getting attached to the contact lenses which is severely harmful to the eyes.
EYE HEALTH & HYGIENE IS A THING
DO's
Following a hygiene routine for your eyes while travelling like drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated is critical. Hydrating the eyes is essential to maintain your eyesight and tear production.
While make-up can enhance the beauty of your eyes during parties and dinners, not removing it at bedtime can be disastrous for your vision.
Gently wash your eyes with cool water whenever you take a break. Those road trips can be as strenuous for your eyes as they are for your back.
Take care of your eye health during long-haul trips by using a hot compress at the end of each journey.
DONT's
Don’t touch your eyes with dirty or wet hands. People generally collect germs and dirt in their hands as they come in contact with different surfaces. These germs and bacteria can get into your eyes if you touch your eyes with dirty or wet hands, increasing the chances of infections and diseases.
Don’t go into or stay for too long in areas with lots of smoke from fires or cigarettes, as smoke can irritate and make dry eyes feel sore.
MAKE YOUR EYES TRAVEL READY WITH SRGR
Travelling or even the demands of daily life can make keeping your eyes healthy; a challenge. This World Tourism Day, as travel restrictions ease the world over, follow the tips shared above to make your eyes travel-ready. Offering services in optometry and opticianry since the late 19th century, SRGR offers its customers a wide range of eyewear from the best brands globally. Along with in-house clinical and consultation services, we provide complete primary vision care that includes medical check-ups, eye-sight testing, and correction; making us your trusted partner in your endeavour to make your eyes travel ready.
