Macafem’s Tips Against “Airplane” Dry Eyes

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1. Get Extra Vitamin C

First and foremost, plan ahead and increase your daily vitamin C intake a week before the trip. The human body cannot make vitamin C by itself, so it relies upon you eating foods that have high levels of it in order to keep you in optimum health. Vitamin C acts as a mild anti-histamine, and therefore has anti-inflammatory properties, so it decreases the friction between two of the layers of cells in your eyes. Vitamin C rich foods include citrus fruits, chili peppers, dark green, leafy vegetables, and kiwi fruits.

2. Pack Some Eye Drops in Your Carry-On

Take eye drops with you to use as frequently as necessary during your flight. Artificial tears can act to moisten and protect your eyes, preventing them from becoming itchy and dry. Your doctor should be able to provide you with safe and simple eye drops – just remember to get the smallest bottle and keep it properly labeled to avoid problems when going through airport security.

3. Stay Hydrated

One of the very best things you can do to reduce eye dryness is to stay hydrated. The recommended amount of water is eight glasses a day, but the dry cabin air can make some extra fluids necessary. Start drinking extra fluids starting the night before your trip, and drink a glass of water each hour during your flight.

4. Get Rid of the Contacts

If you are a contact lens wearer, then go back to your traditional glasses for air journeys. The air in the cabin will cause the essential moisture on your contact lenses to disappear, which can leave you in anything ranging from mild discomfort to severe pain. You can swap back to using your contact lenses once you arrive at your destination and leave the dry air of the plane cabin.

5. Avoid Reading during the Flight

Reading is a favorite way to pass the time on those long, boring flights. Though it might be very tempting to pick up a good book and lose yourself in it to make your journey seem shorter, doing this could antagonize your vision and worsen eye dryness. Reading makes you blink less frequently, causing more moisture to escape from your eyes. Instead of reading, try downloading an audio book to your mp3 player.

Many flyers find that they suffer from dry eyes due to cabin air conditions. However, it is not an issue that must simply be put up with. The five above actions can combat and prevent the problem, letting you enjoy a pain- and irritation-free flight without damaging your eyes.