Protect your dry eyes from the elements outdoors

My wife and I just returned from a nearly two week medical mission trip to Guatemala. What a rewarding experience!! Our trip was to an area called Huehuetenango, a very rural and impoverished area in the northwestern part of the country. The medical missions that go to the area are the only real eye care that they receive. They welcomed us with graciousness and warmth and I feel very blessed to have been a small part of the lives of so many of these humble people. We saw over 300 patients and treated a wide variety of eye conditions.

This experience also drives home the importance of proper eye protection to prevent and treat dry eye. So many of the people in this area have had long term exposure to wind, dust, and smoke. Their eyes will forever be red, burning, and irritated.

If you have dry eye it is very important to wear proper eye wear when outdoors to protect against excessive tear evaporation. Good coverage sunglasses go a long way towards helping dry eyes feel better. There are some specialized dry eye glasses available which can be read about in my eBook. Regular use of eye protection will make your eyes feel better now and prevent other conditions which will make your eyes feel worse.