The holidays are all about having fun and spending quality time with our loved ones. We get caught up in the chaos of the Christmas season, but these simple tips can help you keep your eyes healthy during the holidays.

Keep your eyes hydrated. Long travels by car or plane make your eyes more vulnerable to dryness, especially if you wear contact lenses. Cars and planes have low humidity, causing your tears to evaporate faster and preventing your tear glands from producing enough tears. Aside from drinking lots of water, bring a bottle of artificial tears to help keep your eyes moist. Ask your eye doctor for the most appropriate artificial tears for you.

Protect your eyes from the sun. Whenever you head outside, ensure that you are wearing sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Too much exposure to the sun’s UV rays has been linked to development of eye problems like cataracts, macular degeneration and pterygium that can cause temporary or permanent vision loss.

Remove eye makeup. Christmas parties involve getting dolled up for an evening with friends or family. Just don’t forget to wash eye makeup off afterwards! With the help of a mild makeup remover and cleanser, use gentle strokes to remove eye makeup to avoid eye irritation or infections.

Wear eye protection. Wear protective glasses or goggles when watching a fireworks display up close or while lighting firecrackers. Keep away from where fireworks are being launched; if your eyes are irritated by the smoke, wash them with clean water and stay indoors. If your eyes are injured by fireworks, rush to the nearest eye clinic or hospital.

According to Asian Eye Institute’s cornea and refractive/ LASIK surgeon Dr. Emerson Cruz, undergoing a comprehensive eye exam is encouraged to make sure one’s eyes are healthy.

“A lot of people wait for an eye emergency to happen before having their eyes checked. Pay your eye doctor a visit before the holiday break. You will find out how your eyes are doing, and if an eye problem is detected, we can give immediate treatment,” he says.

Asian Eye Institute offers comprehensive eye exams that can help detect various eye conditions. Kapamilya discounts apply: 50% off on consultations, 25% off on diagnostic examinations, treatments and surgeries. For more info, call 898-2020. (Story by : Charizze Henson and Audrey Trinidad)