If you travel often and fly frequently to sunny destinations it good to make the right preparations to safeguard your eyesight.
Overseas travel tends to expose travellers to higher ocular risks like eye infections, eye injuries, and solar damage. Vision problems can be burdensome at best and lead to chronic issues and visual loss at worst. With that in mind, it’s important to have a good eye care routine if you’re a frequent flyer. While it doesn’t completely eliminate the chance of developing eye conditions, it does greatly minimise unnecessary risk.
When thinking about your next trip, make sure to keep these simple practices in mind.
Wear sunglasses during the daytime
Flying can expose you to a lot of solar exposure, from the high altitudes of the flights themselves to being outside during your travels. Even going to and from the airport exposes you to the sun’s rays, with varying levels of UV exposure depending on where you are. It’s worth noting that the closer you are to the equator, the higher UVA and UVB levels are. Even when inside the airport, you are often surrounded by large windows that bring in natural light to the space.
As such, you need to protect your eyes with proper eyewear. Eye health experts note that clear lenses without UV coating may not actually offer full protection against the most harmful rays within the spectrum. The best option is to put on sunglasses with enough tinting and actual layers of protective coating. The label should indicate the UV protection level, so you should look for pairs marked ‘UV400’ or ‘100% protection’ when picking a pair of shades for travel. You can often see this in reliable sunglasses brands like Ray-Ban, Persol, and Linda Farrow.
Swap out your lenses if you wear contact lenses
If you wear contacts, it’s best to opt for dailies so you don’t have to worry about cleaning and storage when you’re on the go. You are exposed to a lot of germs, dust, and debris when flying, so hygiene is a crucial but potentially tiresome part of the journey. If you buy contact lenses that you can swap out every day, the experience may be a lot easier for you in the long run. You can even keep stock of brands that will be much comfier for tired eyes that get exposed to changes in altitude, climate, and weather. Dailies AquaComfort Plus uses blink-activated technology to keep your eyes hydrated even if you wear them the whole day, while Dailies Total 1 uses water-gradient lenses for a more breathable feel while going about your day.
Of course, you will need to remember to swap these out every day (or as needed during the day, if you feel you need a fresh pair). Make sure you thoroughly clean your hands and dry them while handling your lenses, especially considering how many contaminants you will likely be exposed to as you fly.
Pack protective eyewear for different activities
There are plenty of activities you can do when you travel the world, so you’ll want to pack appropriately for each one. After all, not all eyewear is built for the same purpose. If you travel to Fiji for diving lessons, you would need to use a diving mask as opposed to goggles. These scuba dives will be going to depths that regular swimming goggles would be unable to handle due to the pressure. Ultimately, the right knowledge is important to protect yourself against potential eye injuries.
While some activities give you the opportunity to ask experts for their guidance and rent gear from them, it’s still best to do your research on the type of activities you plan to do. By doing this, it will save you any potential hassle and risk to your eyes.
Pack eye care items
If you wear glasses, bring a small microfibre cloth with you to clean your lenses when they fog up or build up grime from travel. As tempting as it may be to simply use a cloth or your shirt to wipe them, you may end up adding bacteria to your glasses or even scratching your lenses. You can pack a cloth in your carry-on, and it’s worth bringing extras just in case you lose one.
If you wear contact lenses, don’t forget to pack the correct contact lens solution. Other liquids, especially water from a tap as well as natural sources like the sea, can not only damage your lenses but introduce all manner of germs and bacteria that will then enter and potentially infect your eyes. Lens solution is carefully formulated to prevent these adverse outcomes, so you should use it as intended to avoid infections and discomfort. You won’t need to bring an excessive amount on your travels, especially if you opt for dailies, and airports generally allow you to pack it in your carry-on if declared ahead of time.
Recent Comments