Travel Tips for Sensitive Eyes

Summer is a great time of year for everyone to get out and travel.  When you get to your destination, you want to look fresh and ready to experience something new.  However, the extra dry conditions of airplanes and even cars can make our eyes look red, puffy, and tired.  Being prepared with a few extra goodies in your carry-on bag and your checked bag can make all the difference in how you see, look, and feel. 

In this blog, you will learn what to pack, how to prepare yourself before you travel, the best ways to stay hydrated while traveling, and how to refresh yourself once you reach your destination.  We all deserve to show up looking and feeling great for our adventure to begin.  I have also included a printable packing list you can keep handy while preparing for your trip to ensure you have all the right supplies at hand. 

START PACKING 

In this day and age of high security at the airport, you will need to carefully consider which items you put in your checked bag and which ones you will want to carry on.  Small travel sized tears and contact lens solutions can be carried on, but they should be placed in your small plastic baggie.  If you take any prescription eye drops, put these in the plastic baggie as well. 

On board, you will want to have access to your makeup remover wipes, artificial tears, sleep mask, earplugs, and water bottle.  Also, don’t forget to pack lots of healthy snacks.  Immediately upon landing, you may want to apply Lumify.  This should be kept in your plastic baggie as well. 

For your trip you will need contacts, back up glasses and sunglasses.  You will also need contact lens cleaner if you are not already wearing a daily disposable lens.  Don’t' forget your dry eye care essentials like your HydroEye omega 3 fatty acid supplements, warm Bruder compress mask, Hypochlor eyelid and lash cleanser and artificial tears.  Also, pack the rest of your favorite makeup remover wipes or other wipe removing solution in the checked bag as well. 

If this is a short trip, you may want to consider taking easy-to-carry options for your dry eye care.  Instead of bringing a bottle of eyelid and lash cleansing spray, that is easy to use at home, you can take individually wrapped eyelid and lash cleansing pads.  If you want a tea tree oil formulation, this type is better for people who have facial or ocular rosacea, use Blephadex Eyelid wipes.  If you do not have rosacea, you can stick with Systane or Ocusoft Lid Wipes. 

Blephadex Lid Wipes                   Systane Wipes 

Also, there are some travel-friendly makeup removers I recommend for sensitive eyes as well.  My first love is definitely Beautycounter makeup remover wipes.  Be careful if you are already using a makeup remover wipe.  Most of the makeup remover wipes available at your local drug store will contain alcohol.  Also, do not substitute a baby wipe for a makeup remover wipe.  Your face is more delicate than a baby’s bottom.  These also contain ingredients you don’t want around your eyes.  If you haven’t done so already, be sure to download the List of Toxic Ingredients to Avoid in self-care products. 

If you prefer a makeup remover that travels well and is completely free of liquid, use a makeup remover cloth.  I love the Norwex version.  These makeup remover cloths are reusable, and only require you to moisten it with water in order to remove all the makeup from your face and eyes.  You do not need to add any soap or cleanser to the cloth.  I always recommend starting with your eyes if you are going to use the same wipe or cloth for your entire face.   

This makeup removal cloth is a perfect travel companion since it can be packed dry, reused for several days, and is quite small.  Regardless of whether you opt to use this facial cloth on a daily basis, I highly recommend having one of these for travel.  The cloth is absolutely free of any chemicals or toxic ingredients since it is made of cotton.  It is the perfect solution for someone who has sensitive skin as well.  And, there is no waste because it is reusable.  You simply wash the cloth in hot water and dry it in the dryer when it is soiled. 

Norwex sells these as a set of three here.  And, of course, you can also find them on Amazon.  

Norwex Makeup Removal Cloths  

PRE-FLIGHT: WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO 

1) Remove your contact lenses 

I strongly encourage you to fly without contact lenses in your eyes.  The lack of moisture in the cabin is really going to make them feel like pieces of cellophane stuck to your eyes.  Also, hopefully, you will be able to squeeze in a nap in flight, so we really don't want them in our eyes while sleeping.   

Bring a pair of daily disposables in your carry-on bag and pop them in your eyes after you land.  If you don't yet have daily disposable contact lenses, bring your contacts with you in your purse or carry-on bag.  Make sure your own contact lens case is clean and closed tightly.  Use a flat pack with lids that screw on for this.  And, you may want to place it in a plastic baggie to safeguard against leaks. 

Daily Disposable Contact Lens                      Flat Pack contact lens storage 

2) Remove your makeup 

Whether you’re in the air or on the ground, makeup on your face naturally grabs onto the dirt, dust, pollen and anything else it can cling to.  The more stuff that is stuck to our eyes and worse, our contact lenses, the more irritation we will encounter.  Remember, as women with dry sensitive eyes, we want to keep any irritants we can control to a minimum. 

I encourage you to go makeup-free during flight.  Hopefully, you will be sleeping through some of the flight and the other time you will be lubricating your eyes with lots of artificial tears.  So, the makeup will just get in your way. 

If you want to wait to remove your makeup until you get on the airplane, just remember to bring a makeup remover wipe in your carry-on bag.  I prefer the Beautycounter Makeup Remover Wipes.  These are pre-moistened, toxin and irritant free, and they are great for women with sensitive eyes and skin.  Just run the wipe over your eyes first to remove shadow, liner, and mascara.  Then, choose another area of the wipe to go over your entire face in outward strokes. 

Beautycounter Makeup Remover Wipes 

YOUR IN-FLIGHT GUIDE 

1) Stay hydrated 

Aircraft cabins are pressurized with extra oxygen so we can all breathe easy during our flight.  But this comfort comes at a cost.  The pressurization dramatically reduces the humidity levels in the cabin.  So, we have to combat this arid climate by increasing our fluid intake.  Aim to drink at least 8 ounces of water for each hour you are in the air.  If you can drink more in than that, you are a true superstar.   

Keeping your body hydrated during travel is an epic challenge.  You can either bring an empty refillable water bottle in your carry-on bag through security.  Or, you can prepare yourself to pay for water like it is gold at the Newsstand in the airport lobby.  Unless you are flying first class, I doubt you will get your flight attendant to supply you with enough water once you are on board the aircraft. 

Now that you are have drank all of this water to stay fully hydrated.  You will need to relieve yourself.  This will again present a challenge.  If you travel with children, as I do, you will have a few extra hurdles to cross.  You have two choices at this point: you can drag your children into the tiny restroom on board with you, or leave them in their seats.  Ugh, both choices are problematic.  I choose to take my munchkins with me.  We all pack in like clowns in a circus car and enjoy the experience. 

Dr. T and her mini-mes in an airplane bathroom 

2) Keep your eyes moisturized 

Keep your Preservative-free Artificial Tears (PFATs) handy during flights.  Your eyes will already be under considerable stress from the dry environment.  Using a bottled tear will put more preservatives in your eyes, which could irritate them further.  Instead, use a lipid-based PFATs (Refresh Optive Advanced or Refresh Mega) that will hang around in your eyes longer.  Download the Ultimate Guide to Artificial Tears here to choose the best drop for your lifestyle. 

Also, you can use a thicker hydrating gel drop if you are going to take a nap.  Artificial tear gels and ointments are significantly thicker and will blur your vision.  Here you could use a preserved gel (Systane gel or Refresh Liquigel) since you are only using 1-2 drops.  If you want to stay completely preservative-free use Refresh Celluvisc in the vial containers.    

PFATs Refresh Mega-3                     Refresh Gel Drops 

3) Take a nap 

Taking a nap during your flight is a nice distraction and a good way to feel more refreshed when you arrive at your destination if done right.  Again, you will have to make sure you have all of the proper supplies on hand to ensure you will have a successful nap.   

First, bring some earplugs.  You don't know when your neighbor is going to turn his headphones up so loud that you feel like you are in a movie theater.  Or, maybe the baby behind you starts to cry.  Next, use a sleep mask.  The less light your eyes are able to sense, the easier it will be to fall asleep.  Put in those gel tears before covering your eyes with your sleep mask.  Finally, make an attempt to be as comfortable as possible with a blanket and travel pillow. 

Light blocking sleep mask 

4) Have a snack 

Onboard airplanes these days, our only choices for food are usually super salty and prepackaged.  The airport usually doesn't offer much better choices.  They are generally super salty or sugary, and they are often filled with those Omega 6s we are trying to avoid.  This is a recipe for puffy eyes later. 

The best method to avoid this disaster is to pack your own food.  Walnuts are high in Omega 3 Fatty Acids.  Nuts, trail mix, and fruit travel well.  Carrots and hummus are another great travel-friendly snack, and it may satisfy your urge from something crunchy.  Finally, jerky is good if you are looking for some protein or just something more filling. 

ONCE YOU ARRIVE AT YOUR DESTINATION 

1) Refresh your eyes. 

Go ahead and use your preservative-free artificial tears one more time.  If you need an extra boost for your eyes not to appear tired, you can use one drop of Lumify in each eye.  Just make sure to wait at least 5 minutes between instilling the artificial tears and the drop of Lumify.   

Lumify is a new eye whitener that can make your eyes appear as good as new in just one minute.  This drop is different from other redness reducers in that it does not decrease the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the front surface of the eye.  Also, it does not cause rebound redness when the drop wears off after 8 hours. 

Lumify must be instilled at least 10 minutes before inserting your contact lenses.  And, if you need to use another eye drop or artificial tear, please wait at least 5 minutes between drops.  It does not contain any bleach or dye.  However, there is a preservative in the drop, so use it sparingly if you have moderate to severe dry eyes.   Get your own bottle of Lumify here.

Lumify Eye Redness Reliever

2) Put in your contact lenses and apply your makeup 

Now that you have landed, you can get yourself ready to enjoy your destination.  Put your contact lenses in and don’t forget your sunglasses.  If you are not sure of the best kind of sunglasses for you, check out this blog. 

Sunglasses   

You can also reapply your eye makeup now that your contact lenses are in.  I love Volumizing Mascara by Beautycounter.  Use one swipe for a classic daytime look, or 2 swipes for evening drama.  You will be ready for any adventure you can find here in your destination city.  Go out and have some fun. 

Beautycounter Volumizing Mascara 

CONCLUSION

Since I am married to a pilot, you would think that I fly all the time.  The truth is that we don’t fly as much as we did before having children.  This week is different, we are going to St. Louis for a big optometry conference.  So, I have been thinking about ways to keep my eyes moisturized while on the plane. 

Traveling is stressful in the best of circumstances.  However, being prepared can alleviate a lot of that stress.  And, your eyes will thank you when they arrive at your destination feeling moisturized and ready to go.  I have prepared a packing checklist for you to make sure you have everything you need for your next airport adventure.  Click here to download the Eyecare Essentials Packing List. 

Keep your body hydrated by bringing water on board with you as well as a healthy snack.  The airport is full of salty pre-packaged foods that are full of Omega 6 fatty acids.  These factors, plus the high price tags, will make you not want to travel again.  Keep your eyes hydrated with preservative-free tears.  If you are not sure of the best ones for you, download the Ultimate Guide to Artificial Tears here: 

If you live in the St. Louis area, please send me a message at [email protected].  I would love to meet up and talk about your dry eyes. 

 Don't let red, sensitive, irritated eyes hold you back from doing the things you love in life.   A customized treatment plan is the best way to alleviate your symptoms and restore the clear and comfortable vision you deserve.  Keep following the blog here for weekly tips, tricks, and tools to care for your eyes.