Workplace and travel

WORK

Getting comfortable at work is mostly about maxing out environmental modifications, and finding products that will work for you on-the-go. Some ideas to get you started:

Check humidity levels at home and office. Use a humidifier if needed. OSHA recommends that humidity at your office not be lower than 20%.

Check for vents that may need to be redirected. Moving indoor air is hard on dry eye, just like wind outdoors.

Wear moisture chamber glasses while using a computer, especially if you have severe symptoms. If you're concerned about the aesthetics, look into the Ziena glasses series, or perhaps consider getting custom moisture chambers made.

Adopt strategies for computer time, including lighting adjustments, justgetflux.com, visual reminders to blink more often, keeping well hydrated, and keeping your screen position low so that your aperture is smaller (less eye surface exposed means less evaporative tear less and less exposure sensation).

If you have a lot of pain, seek out pain management strategies that don't involve constant use of drops if possible.

Talk to human resources about accommodations in your workplace if necessary. Humidifiers are a common accommodation. If that's not an option, a small desktop humidifier might be helpful.

If humidification, moisture chambers and computer strategies are still not enough, you may want to look into scleral lenses or PROSE.

Get additional tips from online dry eye groups.

TRAVEL

Travel can be intimidating for people who suffer from severe dry eye, especially because of the environmental factors: a/c and heat in cars on long drives, the notoriously super-dry air on planes, irritating fluorescent lighting in airports, dry hotel rooms, and increased time outdoors, potentially in wind, and in bright sunlight which is challenging if you're photophobic. In addition, there are practical issues - like how to do warm compresses without a microwave, how to store autologous serum drops on the go, and so on. On top of all that, there are many issues specific to PROSE and scleral lens users relative to how to manage their lenses on the go and how to get their supplies through security checks, especially internationally.

On the other hand, don't underestimate the power of travel to lift your spirits during a hard time with your eyes and even to improve your symptoms across the board. It's so common for people to say their eyes felt MUCH better while they were on vacation, even if the place they went wasn't a remarkably more humid climate. Just spending less time in climate-controlled buildings and cars will make a difference, besides the pleasure factor and everything endorphins can do for you.

The three mainstays of dry eye comfort on the road:

DRINK UP: Stay hydrated.

LUBE UP: Max out preventive hydration in the toughest environments.

COVER UP: This is TOPS. Bring goggles or wraparounds on flights. For the photophobic triggered by fluorescents, wear them in the airport. Wraparounds (e.g. 7Eye AirShields, which have the best, deepest foam cups of all the types with removable foam) are essential for windproofing as well as protecting light-sensitive eyes outdoors.

Miscellaneous tips:

Compresses: In-flight, a wet washcloth in a ziplock baggy can be helpful to give your eyes some relief without having to get to the lavatory. If you don't have access to a microwave, and if you're one of the many for whom hot washcloths just don't cut it, self-activating compresses like Eye Eco's Thermoeyes Beads may be handiest as they can be heated in hot water.

Travel with scleral lens supplies: TSA has medical exemptions for everything you need for your sclerals, just make sure to follow the rules. If you are nervous about the risk of not having your supplies in the event your luggage gets misdirected, make sure to take several days' worth in your carry-on.

International travel: Don't forget that TSA rules only apply in the US! If you are traveling internationally and need to take your scleral lens supplies with you, be aware that you may have problems getting through security on outbound flights originating somewhere other than the US. Put things in checked luggage, or if you're going to be gone quite awhile, consider shipping what you need ahead of you or finding out what substitutes you might be able to purchase locally.