Don’t let dry eyes ruin your holiday.
Nobody wants to sum up their summer holiday as ‘sun, sea and suffering’ so use these tips to give yourself the best chance of enjoying your break despite your dry eye.
1. Keep up your daily heat and massage treatment to maintain your meibomian gland health. When you’re off your normal schedule, it’s easy for things to fall by the wayside. You might think you’ll be okay for a day or two, but missed days at the beginning of the holiday could mean worse days later on. A USB-powered heat mask is the best option for travel as it can be plugged in anywhere and you don’t need to look for a microwave
2. Remember to pack all your usual drops, especially if they’re prescription items. You can’t be sure you can buy replacements at your destination.
3. If you’re flying, use a wet compress on closed eyes for as long as you feel necessary while you’re on the plane to avoid the air conditioning drying out your eyes. You can also use goggles that seal off all air flow to your eyes and act as a moisture chamber.
4. Use sunglasses and/or a hat to shield your eyes from sun and wind. Dry eyes can be more sensitive to the light. Some people experience worse symptoms in the sun and wind. And, if you have punctal plugs, your eyes will stream more when they’re exposed to sun and wind. Wrap-around style sunglasses will give you the best protection.
5. Balance your alcohol intake with plenty of water. Alcohol has a dehydrating effect so it’s important to keep topping up with water while you’re at the bar and over the next several hours while your body is dealing with the alcohol. Keeping well hydrated will prevent an exacerbation of dry eye symptoms after drinking alcohol, as well as preventing that hangover headache. Read more about how much water you need here.
6. Dry eye symptoms have inflammatory drivers, so try to limit your consumption of foods known to promote inflammation. Eat as healthy a diet as possible and avoid the temptation to indulge in too much highly-processed or junk foods and try to include foods known to fight inflammation, such as leafy green vegetables, berries and tomatoes. Nuts make a healthy alternative for snacking.
7. Relax and enjoy your time away!
