Sore eyes after day of sailing.

Nov 6, 2020
392
Mariner 36 California
Hi,

I wear contact lenses. After a day sailing in decent wind my eyes are very dry. I think it's the constant wind that is drying. I have the problem in day and night sailing, so i think the wind is the issue and not sun or glare.

My bigger issue that when we do distance races, my role is the mainsail trimmer. I get a stiff neck from constantly looking up at the windex and sail.

Barry
Interesting thanks. WileyX has a series of glasses that have a rubber seal built into them. They promise to block out more of the elements including wind, and are polorized. Think i might try a pair and see how much they help. My current glasses wrap around some and have decent side protection from sun and wind, but there is a gap between the glasses and my face at the bottom where i can definitely feel wind coming in between the glasses and my eyes sometimes.
 

LloydB

.
Jan 15, 2006
927
Macgregor 22 Silverton
Just a thought.. If you happen to have a set of ski goggles you might try them on as an experiment. Was reluctant to make the suggestion because it's a ice water type of solution and have no idea if it would help.
 
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Jun 10, 2024
173
Macgregor / Hunter M25 /Hunter 240 Okanagan Lake
I can’t wait to have enough wind while sailing to worry ‘bout it. It’s always so calm when we go lol. :)

LloydB, MAC 22 in Silverton. That wouldn’t be Silverton BC would it on the Slocan Lake?
 
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Ward H

.
Nov 7, 2011
3,776
Catalina 30 Mk II Cedar Creek, Bayville NJ
Like Barry I wear contact lenses when sailing. My eyes get a little dry from the wind, more noticeable that evening and night.
I always wear polarized sunglasses. I don't think I've ever owned a pair that wasn't polarized. Yes, they make it harder to read the instruments at times but I work around that.
 
Feb 3, 2012
72
Corbin 39 Pilothouse Cutter Lyme, CT
Polarized glacier glasses, Bimini, and liquid tears work for me. I find reflective light is very hard on my eyes and glacier / climbing glasses prevent side light from impacting my eyes. I’ve been diagnosed with Dry Eyes and Macular degeneration.
Get them checked..!
 
Apr 25, 2024
423
Fuji 32 Bellingham
I wonder if im chronically dehydrated? I'm going to take a few days off from caffeine and see how much it helps.
I know this is a bit of a tangent, but I am a serious tea enthusiast, so I try to stomp out this myth when I see it. While caffeine is technically a mild diuretic, caffeinated beverages will not promote dehydration. The mild diuretic effect is a drop in the bucket compared to the fluids gained from the beverage. The research has been really clear on this. You could drink nothing but caffeinated beverages and be just fine (from a hydration perspective) except under extreme conditions. I did this for 2 months, one summer, just to prove a point and I was VERY hydrated.

But, as to the dry eyes, obviously it is a good idea to get checked out. And, I am not an eye doctor. My medical background is limited to emergency and wilderness medicine. So, frame my answer within that context. There are two causes of dry eyes: low tear production and/or high tear evaporation. The windy environment on a boat lends itself to really rapid tear evaporation. I know, antecdotally for myself, that if I let this go for a while on the boat, my tear ducts can get clogged. (Salty air is likely a contributor, as well.) In fact, I need to make a point of washing my eyes with warm water at the end of the day to avoid problems.

So, my advice is:
1) Get checked out
2) Look for polarized glasses that wrap around for better good protection.
3) Thoroughly rinse your face/eyes with warm water at the end of your sail.

My bet is that this addresses the issue.
 
Nov 6, 2020
392
Mariner 36 California
I know this is a bit of a tangent, but I am a serious tea enthusiast, so I try to stomp out this myth when I see it. While caffeine is technically a mild diuretic, caffeinated beverages will not promote dehydration. The mild diuretic effect is a drop in the bucket compared to the fluids gained from the beverage. The research has been really clear on this. You could drink nothing but caffeinated beverages and be just fine (from a hydration perspective) except under extreme conditions. I did this for 2 months, one summer, just to prove a point and I was VERY hydrated.

But, as to the dry eyes, obviously it is a good idea to get checked out. And, I am not an eye doctor. My medical background is limited to emergency and wilderness medicine. So, frame my answer within that context. There are two causes of dry eyes: low tear production and/or high tear evaporation. The windy environment on a boat lends itself to really rapid tear evaporation. I know, antecdotally for myself, that if I let this go for a while on the boat, my tear ducts can get clogged. (Salty air is likely a contributor, as well.) In fact, I need to make a point of washing my eyes with warm water at the end of the day to avoid problems.

So, my advice is:
1) Get checked out
2) Look for polarized glasses that wrap around for better good protection.
3) Thoroughly rinse your face/eyes with warm water at the end of your sail.

My bet is that this addresses the issue.
Thank you. Rinsing my eyes, maybe even once or twice when out sailing might be a great idea, especially when i return. I will give this a try. I have noticed that even when im on the boat for a day or two, not sailing but just hanging out, my eyes get slightly irritated. I think the salty air alone irritates them. Its not uncomfortable but i do notice it. Sounds like i might have low tear production and maybe my eyes are not as naturally lubricated, so maybe takes less to irritate them or dry them out.
 
Aug 19, 2021
505
Hunter 280 White House Cove Marina
Polarized wrap around sunglasses. These block the glare from almost all directions and reduce the amount of wind that gets to your eyes.
I wear contacts, and use reading glasses. To me the most important thing is the darkest, polarized, tightest fitting wrap around sunglasses I can find. I treat the sun and its glare like I someone welding and I am trying to prevent flash blindness.

Flash blindness is caused by exposure to too much ultraviolet (UV) light, such as from welding torches or sun lamps. Symptoms usually appear 6 to 12 hours after exposure. With proper care, the cornea usually heals without scarring, but if left untreated, an infection can occur that may lead to vision loss.
Symptoms can include: Pain, Light sensitivity, Watery eyes, Blurred vision, Bloodshot eyes, Swelling, Eyelid twitching, and Burning sensation.
 
Nov 6, 2020
392
Mariner 36 California
I wear contacts, and use reading glasses. To me the most important thing is the darkest, polarized, tightest fitting wrap around sunglasses I can find. I treat the sun and its glare like I someone welding and I am trying to prevent flash blindness.

Flash blindness is caused by exposure to too much ultraviolet (UV) light, such as from welding torches or sun lamps. Symptoms usually appear 6 to 12 hours after exposure. With proper care, the cornea usually heals without scarring, but if left untreated, an infection can occur that may lead to vision loss.
Symptoms can include: Pain, Light sensitivity, Watery eyes, Blurred vision, Bloodshot eyes, Swelling, Eyelid twitching, and Burning sensation.
Oh yes i have had sunburnt eyes before. I never used to wear sunglasses. I'm a lifelong outdoors hiker. It never seemed to bother me (not wearing sunglasses) until i started sailing. The sun off the water is absolutely brutal not to mention the bright reflection off out white boat decks. A couple of days with sunburnt eyes and i immediately started wearing glasses. No noticeable vision problems yet, just this bout of sore and dry. I ordered a pair of polorized wrap around glasses the military guys wear in the desert. Darker than the pair i have now and have a rubber/foam shield between the glasses and face. Will be interesting to see how much they help. Thanks for the reply.
 
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Likes: Ward H
Oct 26, 2010
2,115
Hunter 40.5 Beaufort, SC
Definitely try to hydrate more (Occam's razor) - your body needs extra water to flush the caffeine and alcohol out.

Cataract surgery: you get to specify near, middle or far range focus. I went with far in both - wonderful as Dave says. Clear as a bell, vibrant colors. Only downside is I need reading glasses.
Just had cataract surgery myself. Easy-peasy. You can now actually specify lenses (Panoptix link below) that can take you to 20/20 for Near, Middle and Far correction. No need for glasses at any distance, no reading glasses needed. They seem to take a little more light for reading - something to do with how the eye focuses. Pricey but well worth the extra $$$ above what Medicare and my TriCare for Life pay.

PanOptix Trifocal Lenses (IOL) for Cataract Surgery & RLE