Summer Travel Tips to Keep Your Eyes Healthy

Last updated on July 17th, 2024 at 03:16 pm

Temperatures have been exceptionally hot in the past year, significantly impacting the way people must
approach travel. In Europe, intense heat waves have become more dangerous as daily temps hit over 98
Fahrenheit. These issues have become prevalent throughout the various countries within these borders,
even extending to other continents. Asian countries, like India, are among those that saw record-breaking numbers peaking at 114.8 Fahrenheit.

If you’re going to travel while the summer rages on, you’ll need to protect your eyes from the sheer harshness of the sun. Thankfully, you don’t have to go all out to keep your eyes healthy if you stick to some key essentials on your trip.

Wear protective sunglasses

The clearest line of defense is something that will directly shield your eyes. Macular degeneration, eye
strain, irritation, and more can be avoided if you don’t let your eyes get exposed to glare and UV rays. A pair of sunglasses should do the trick, as long as they use lenses with proper UV and light filtering. Well-made models from affordable brands can even come with Transitions Light Intelligent Lenses, which adapt to light around you to go from clear to dark, depending on how bright it is. Whether you go for this model or a different one, you’ll want to check for the UV400 label indicating 100% protection against UVA and UVB rays through lens coating. 

A good practice is to keep your sunglasses on whenever you’re outdoors, even if you don’t feel the sun casting directly on your face. UV rays are quite persistent, and there can be all manner of reflective surfaces around that can hit you with glare.

Have eyedrops at the ready

Summer may be fun, but it’s also the season of dry eyes. Regardless of the activities you have planned, it’s good to have some eye drops to keep your eyes lubricated. The combination of wind and the sun’s heat naturally makes your eyes more likely to dry out. If you don’t produce enough lubrication, it can get very uncomfortable and even increase your risk for corneal tears and irritation. Even when cooling off indoors, direct airflow from fans or constant circulation from air conditioning can cause severe dryness. 

You generally want to go for artificial tears, as this is the most general type of eye drop that works for the
situation. Other medicated drops should only be used for specific eye needs when advised by a health professional. Brands like Refresh offer over-the-counter lubricants that only require one or two drops directly over the eye.

Stay hydrated

Keeping healthy and protecting your vision doesn’t just end at directly fiddling around with your actual eyes. A huge part of maintaining well-lubricated and bacteria-free eyes is to remain hydrated. If you don’t have enough water in your system, you are more likely to get dry eye and have difficulty naturally getting rid of particles. 

Clean water is a must for avoiding dehydration on any summer vacation anyway, so you’ll want to bring a
handy reusable water bottle you can easily carry around. There are plenty of sustainable and durable
options in the marketplace, but Ocean Bottle recently created the GO bottle specifically for people on the go. It uses recycled ocean-bound plastic with stainless steel and vacuum insulation to keep your liquids safe and cool while maintaining carbon neutrality.

Keep a hat handy

A brimmed hat should also protect your eyes by giving you direct shade, provided that you wear one that
offers at least three inches of coverage from your face. Caps and floppy hats alike should fit the bill, so you can easily find a hat that suits your style and keeps your eyes shielded, especially when the sun’s overhead. 

You’ll also want to check for clothing restrictions and guidelines depending on where you’re traveling. Some destinations restrict the use of hats for respect or security. Respecting such regulations is a must for any traveler. So try to bring a hat that you can readily stow away as needed.