Have you ever travelled and noticed your eyes becoming increasingly itchy, watery, or irritated in any way? You may not be aware, but the environment you’re in will dictate the level of comfort your eyes experience. There are many factors that can contribute to this feeling of discomfort and dry eye.
- Temperatures: Hot or cold, extreme temperatures can cause irritation to the eye.
- Humidity: If you’ve been diagnosed with dry eye, avoid areas with little to no humidity as it can be quite bothersome. If you have to be in these types of areas, use a humidifier to alleviate some of the side effects.
- Wind: Wind dries the surface of the eye which will cause watery eyes.
- Altitude: Higher altitudes have lower amounts of oxygen which will leave you with dry eye.
- Pollutants: Smoke and exhaust fumes are some of the types of pollutants that can be irritating to the eyes.
What are some of the worst cities for dry eye? While there are plenty more, we’re sharing the top 10:
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Lubbock, Texas
- El Paso, Texas
- Midland/Odessa, Texas
- Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Amarillo, Texas
- Honolulu, Hawaii
If you find yourself in any of these environments and are experiencing some of the above symptoms, you may be suffering from dry eye.