Dry Eye Survival Guide for Road Trips: Tips to Keep Your Eyes Comfortable on the Go

If you’re hitting the road for a long drive, you might notice that your eyes tend to feel drier than usual. Whether it’s the dry air from the vents, long hours of focus, or just being on the move, road trips can be tough on your eyes. Here are some easy and practical tips to keep your eyes comfortable during your journey.

1. Pack a Dry Eye Spray

One of the best travel companions for dry eye sufferers is a dry eye spray, like Optase artificial tear spray. Formulated with the same moisturizing preservative-free tears we are accostomed to experiencing with an Optase product. This dry eye spray is quick and easy to use. It's perfect for on the go use. Simply spray it directly onto your eyes for instan...

This winter has been anything but typical. Across the South, we've seen record temperatures and snowfall in places that rarely experience it. But for many of us, it’s not just the cold weather that’s affecting our eyes. The bigger problem is the indoor heat.

Why Does Indoor Heating Make Dry Eye Worse?

When temperatures drop, we naturally turn up the heat indoors. But heaters remove moisture from the air. And this creates a dry environment causing your eyes to sting, burn, and feel irritated. If you've noticed your dry eye symptoms worsening recently, your heating system might be the culprit.

Simple Ways to Keep Your Eyes Comfortable

 The good news? You don’t have to suffer through the season. Here are a few easy ways to combat dry indoor air and keep your eyes feeling their be...

Winter can be the driest season of the year in many locations around the world. Having your heater on indoors combined with the lack of humidity outdoors can put a strain on your eyes ability to keep up with keeping themselves moisturized.

Here are a couple of tips to give your eyes relief during the Winter season.

1. Stay Hydrated: Winter air tends to be dry, both indoors and outdoors. Ensure you stay well-hydrated by drinking an adequate amount of water throughout the day. Proper hydration supports tear production, helping to keep your eyes moist and comfortable.

   The dry eye drink, is a sugar-free supplement that can increase your hydration 2-3 times more than by drinking water alone. This is an additive that you can add to your water to keep you hyper hydrated. Check out this blog p...

I like to refer to the winter season as Dry Eye Season to my patients.  In most parts of the country, winter is the driest season. When the temperature is cold outside, the moisture comes out of the air. Then, we turn our heaters on indoors to combat those cooler temps. Now, the indoor air is dry as well.

It is important this time of year to provide your eyes with extra moisture. I like to think about hydrating my eyes in 3 ways:

1. From the inside
2. On the surface
3. From your environment

Check out these easy steps you can take to get Dry Eye Relief this Winter...

#1) Hydrate from the Inside

Make sure you are continuing to do the things that are good for your eyes and your health during the winter season.  Continuing to take your omega 3 fatty acid supplement is a great idea.  I hav...

February is the coldest month of the year in most parts of the US. It's colder than January or December, so it's important to talk about how to protect your eyes from the cold winter air.

Dry eyes are already sensitive to temperature changes and wind.  The cold air really irritates dry eyes, and it usually makes them water. That's your body's protective mechanism to defend against the irritant of the cold.  The best way to protect your eyes while outdoors during the winter months is to wear sunglasses or goggle that will cover your eyes from cold or wind.

Once you're back indoors, you can also rinse them with preservative-free artificial tears to clear the irritants.  I previously covered everything your need to know about the best sunglasses when you have dry eyes here.  Let's discuss...

In the winter season, it's important to take care of your body so that your body takes care of your eyes.  Last week, we discussed all the ways in which winter season is the hardest on your eyes.  Taking care of you eyes is crucial so they  don't feel dry, itchy red and scratchy all season long, like some of my patients complain about.  If you winterize your self care, your eyes will be happy, and you can live your best life. So let's dive in.

Keep reading to learn how to get the best sleep and why sleep is so important this season.  Then, next week, I'll dive into how to eat what you want and control your dry eye symptoms at the same time.

SLEEP

Stick to a Sleep Schedule

It's essential during the winter season to stick to a schedule. Bedtime is just as meaningful as the time that you ...