Spring is the perfect time to plan a vacation and explore dreamy destinations around the world. So, this is your sign to book your next trip to your dream destination!

However, it’s important to prioritize your health, including your eye health, while traveling. Maintaining good eye health is crucial, not just 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. 

Therefore, if you want to learn which are travel-related ocular complications and how to prevent them, you are in the right place! Read below and let’s find out!

• Dry eye

First of all, dry eyes are a common problem for travelers, especially on long flights with airplanes or in dry climates. This occurs when the eyes don’t produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly, leading to discomfort, redness, and blurry vision. To stop suffering from dry eye, use eye drops or artificial tears and take frequent breaks to rest your eyes.

• Corneal abrasion

Secondly, another eye problem that might occur while traveling is corneal abrasion can occur when a foreign object such as sand or dust gets into your eye, causing a scratch or cut on the cornea. Symptoms include pain, redness, tearing, and sensitivity to light. In order to prevent corneal abrasion, wear protective eyewear and avoid rubbing your eyes. You can also either splash your eyes with fresh water or use eye drops to help the foreign object to leave your eye easily. 

• Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is an infection or inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin membrane that covers the white part of the eye. This can be caused by bacteria or viruses and symptoms include redness, itching, discharge, and sensitivity to light. When it comes to solutions to conjunctivitis, it is important to visit a consultant eye surgeon, in order to help you with this problem, and give you a prescription to prevent any infection. Of course, a comprehensive eye exam can help diagnose and treat these conditions before they lead to further complications.

• UV damage

Last but not least, another ocular complication that might happen while traveling is overexposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays. This can cause damage to the eyes, including cataracts, macular degeneration, and even cancer of the eye. If you want to stop this from happening it is important to wear sunglasses with UV protection and a hat with a brim to shield your eyes. In case you don’t have a pair of sunglasses, it’s important to go shopping before your trip. 

Have you or a loved one experienced travel-related ocular complications?

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