Spring is here, and with it comes the opportunity to plan a vacation to explore new destinations around the world. While travel can be exciting, it’s important to prioritize your health, including your eye health. Maintaining good eye health is crucial not only in your daily life but also during your travels.
Traveling to new places and taking in the sights can be enjoyable, but it’s important to be aware of potential eye problems that can occur during your trip. These complications can cause discomfort and even lead to vision loss. It’s essential to be vigilant and take preventative measures to protect your eyes while traveling.
In addition to the travel-related ocular complications mentioned above, here are some other issues to be aware of:
- Foreign body sensation
First of all, a foreign body sensation is a feeling that there is something in your eye even though there isn’t. This can be caused by dry eyes, allergies, or other factors. It can be uncomfortable and distracting, especially when you’re trying to enjoy your trip. To prevent this from happening, try to keep your eyes moist and avoid rubbing them.
- Eye infections
Moreover, eye infections can occur when harmful bacteria or viruses enter your eye. This can lead to redness, pain, swelling, and discharge. To prevent eye infections, avoid touching your eyes with dirty hands, and always wash your hands before touching your face or eyes. If you do get an infection, it is important to visit a consultant eye surgeon, in order to help you with this problem, and give you a prescription to feel better and to be able to enjoy the rest of your trip.
- Eyestrain
Eyestrain is a common problem for people who spend a lot of time looking at screens or reading. This can be exacerbated while traveling, especially if you’re spending a lot of time on planes, trains, or buses. To prevent eye strain, take frequent breaks and focus on objects at varying distances to give your eyes a rest.
- Altitude sickness
Altitude sickness can occur when you travel to high altitudes, such as in mountainous regions. Symptoms can include headaches, nausea, dizziness, and vision changes. To prevent altitude sickness, it’s important to acclimate slowly to high altitudes and stay hydrated. In some cases, medications can also be helpful.
- Contact lens-related problems
Last but not least, another very usual ocular compilation that might happen to you while traveling is contact lens-related problems! You know that If you wear contact lenses, traveling can pose some challenges. Dry air on planes or in hotel rooms can make your lenses uncomfortable, and swimming or hot tubs can increase the risk of infection. To prevent contact lens-related problems, bring plenty of contact lens solutions, avoid wearing lenses for extended periods, and consider switching to glasses during water activities.
