It’s easy to think of occasional dry eye as a “winter” or “cold season” issue due to drier air and the heat being on. However, occasional dry eye can be a year-round issue, flaring up in the spring and fall from allergies and even during the summertime. A lot of people experience symptoms of occasional dry eye while traveling, and since summer is a popular time to travel, we’re sharing a few ways to help keep those uncomfortable symptoms at bay.

Stay Hydrated.

This is a critical tip to stay healthy all summer long, but staying hydrated can also help keep your eyes feeling comfortable. The human body is 60% water on average, and your eyes are 98% water! Your eyes are directly exposed to the elements, making them among the first organs to feel the effects of poor hydration. That’s why it’s important to keep the water flowing in, especially during the hotter months as sweating depletes your body’s water resources even more.

A good rule of thumb for ensuring you get enough water throughout the day is to drink half your bodyweight in ounces of water. So, if you weigh 200lbs, you should aim to drink 100 ounces of water a day. This number increases based on activity level, and drinking an additional 12 ounces of water per 30 minutes of exercise is a good guideline to follow.

Another tip for staying hydrated is to avoid alcoholic or caffeinated beverages. These ingredients have a diuretic effect, which can lead to dehydration. If you’re going to include these types of beverages in your day, be sure to add an additional 12oz of water per beverage to your daily water intake.

Wear Eyewear.

Another tip for reducing the likelihood of experiencing occasional dry eye symptoms is to wear some form of glasses. This is especially true if you wear contacts, as contact lenses have been known to lead to increased eye dryness and irritation. Even if you don’t need prescription lenses, wearing sunglasses or blue light glasses can help block your eyes from some of the external factors that could cause occasional dry eye (i.e., air conditioning or wind blowing).

Consider a Sleep Mask.

Your eyes can become dry even when you sleep, especially if you’re trying to sleep in a car, bus, train, or plane. Wearing a sleep mask can help keep the eyes closed and protect them from those other external factors mentioned earlier.

Try Turning Off the Air.

As mentioned, the cold, dry air produced by most air conditioners can exacerbate the symptoms of occasional dry eye, especially during travel (think air vent pointed directly at your face). Turning off the air can help reduce some of those symptoms, but of course, that’s not always an option. If the air needs to stay on, try pointing the air vents away from the face to protect your eyes.

Pack Eye Drops.

Even with all the above tips, you still may experience some dryness. Packing  over-the-counter eye drops can help provide that instant relief and help soothe any irritation you may experience during travel. While we don’t recommend these for long-term use, they are an excellent option for  fast, temporary relief.

Take EyePromise^® EZ Tears™.

If you’re looking for a lasting solution for occasional dry eye all year long, try  EyePromise EZ Tears! This daily eye vitamin is designed to support the ocular surface from the inside out, balancing the tear film to create a happy, comfortable eye. By focusing on the health of the surface of the eye, EZ Tears works for traveling, during the cold, dry winter, and for seasonal allergies! It works 24/7! The best part: it’s backed by a 30-day, money-back, satisfaction guarantee!

Learn more about EyePromise EZ Tears.

Using these tips can help you stay comfortable during your summer vacation travels and, hopefully, make the overall experience even better!