Whether you’re on a plane thousands of feet in the sky or navigating a city thousands of miles away from home, make sure your eyesight is protected. You don’t want your upcoming travels to get ruined by some eye discomfort. Six One Six Vision Center, your local eye care center, shares these eye health tips frequent flyers should follow.
Keep Your Eyes Moist In-Flight
The air conditioner inside the airport and the airplane is extremely dry. Prevent your eyes from drying out by bringing artificial tears before your scheduled flight. This over-the-counter medication keeps your corneas moist and lubricated. Also, take out your contacts and store them in their designated container before you sleep for several hours inside the plane.
Rest Your Eyes
Reading a book or doing work on your laptop is a great way to avoid boredom during a long flight. However, you can get eye strain if you overdo it. Take breaks by walking the cabin at least once an hour. Every eye doctor recommends the 20-20-20 eye exercise where you focus on a distant object about 20 feet or so away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. Bring a portable, battery-operated light with you should the lights go dim. Make sure you have reading glasses with you; pack an extra pair just in case.
Take Precautions Upon Landing
Once you arrive at your destination, make sure that your eyes are still protected—this time from direct sunlight. It doesn’t matter where you are; you could be in a tropical country or a sandy or snowy environment. Bring sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat to shield your eyes and your head from the intense heat. Be sure the eyewear provides excellent ultraviolet (UV) protection.
For your eye care needs, turn to the esteemed optometrist of Six One Six Vision Center. From comprehensive eye exams to dry eye treatments and myopia control, we have the right solution to help preserve your vision. Give us a call at (208) 514-1858 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve residents of Boise and Eagle, Idaho.