EYES on a Flight

We get it.  The last thing you’re probably thinking about if you’re off on a holiday flight this month is looking after your eyes.  However, there are a few things that you can do that should mean those dry, gritty eyes that you get after flying can be avoided which take very little effort – we promise!

Wear your glasses to travel.

They’ll help stop your eyes drying out on the flight.  Wearing your contact lenses will mean your eyes are more likely to get (even) drier and that won’t be comfortable at all.

If you’re going to need to sleep on the plane, take a hard glasses case to put your specs in so they don’t get damaged.

Drink plenty.  Of water.

We know that flying dehydrates us all (even on short flights).  When you’re dehydrated, your eyes dry out too so keep drinking water during the flight.   It’s good for you on all levels.  Except when you need to climb over the person next to you to get to the loo – but it’s your health and so it’s worth it!

Take blink breaks.

Whatever you’re doing to pass the time on the plane, take regular blink breaks and just blink for about 20 seconds to relubricate your eyes.  Have a look around and change your focal point – just like you’d take a screen break.

Rest your eyes.

We know that sleeping on a plane is a skill.  Sleeping on a plane with kids on is even harder.  However, take a tip from your elderly relatives and ‘rest your eyes’.  If you can, just sit with your eyes shut for however long you can manage.  This means the air in the cabin won’t dry your eyes out further – and you might just nod off!

Take the eye mask.

Not only will wearing one help stop your eyes drying out if you’re trying to sleep on a flight, it will also help if you’re staying in an air conditioned room once you arrive.

Use hydrating eye drops.

We’ve got a whole range of these at EYES on St Albans that act as artificial tears.  Pop in and have a chat to find out what could work for you.  And while you’re in, we’ll give your glasses a once over to make sure they’re ready to travel too.

Have your sunglasses to hand.

Even if you’re landing during daylight hours, the switch between artificial and natural light can be tough on fatigued eyes.  Keep your sunglasses at the top of your bag so they’re easy to reach.

Even if you’re not going somewhere particularly hot, we’d recommend you wear your sunglasses even when it’s just bright.  They’ll help keep your eyes healthy in the long term.

What we wouldn’t recommend is wearing them in the sea or the pool.  Not only can the salt/chemicals affect the coatings, if we’d had a fiver for every time we’d heard someone say they’d lost theirs whilst swimming – we’d be on a beach ourselves for most of the year!