Digital nomadism is a lifestyle that marries remote work with travel, and it continues to attract millions of professionals every year. Digital nomads often have no formal office space, they’re prone to certain health issues from ineffective work setups. This can include back aches, joint pains, and, of course, eye issues. The latter, in particular, is especially troublesome, given that poor vision can significantly impact your professional and private time. Specifically with the use of poor quality nomad eyewear.
The tide of digital nomads shows no signs of shrinking, even local governments have begun offering specific benefits and considerations. For instance, Japan and Italy announced that they’d finally be offering digital nomad visas this year. It will allow more foreign nationals to live and work virtually anywhere in those countries.
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In the US alone, up to 17 million people identified as digital nomads in 2024. But as idyllic as the idea of seamlessly merging business and pleasure may be, nomadism is not a walk in the park.
According to the CDC, poor vision can reduce your productivity and result in other complications. Such as reduced mobility and mood fluctuations. As such, if you’re currently a digital nomad or just thinking about it, here are some eye care must-haves you shouldn’t overlook.
Blue Light Glasses
Aside from the sun, gadgets are the next biggest source of potentially harmful blue-violet light, often called blue light for short. In excessive amounts, blue light can deregulate the circadian rhythm.
This can cause sleep disturbances that can weaken the immune system, exacerbate depressive ideation, and even impact weight management. For the eyes, this lack of sleep can also negatively affect crucial blood circulation and lubrication. In worst-case scenarios, it can encourage retinal aging, leading to dry eyes, itchiness, and blurred vision.
Cutting out blue light-emitting gadgets is impossible for a digital nomad. However, using blue light glasses as a protective aid is the next best thing. Available with and without prescriptions, this nomad eyewear have special lens filters that block out blue-violet light between 400 and 455nm. This allows you to enjoy enhanced visual comfort throughout the day.
Since most people spend upwards of seven hours in front of screens daily, you can invest in specific types of blue light lenses with additional features. For instance, if you suffer from digital eye strain a lot, you may benefit from SightRelax lenses that are designed to relieve tired eyes.
Since most blue light specs are dust-repellant, UV-blocking, and water-resistant, they’re easy for digital nomads to use in different settings.
Polarized Sunglasses
For many digital nomads, tropical countries are prime destinations due to their weather, proximity to beaches, and typically lower cost of living. However, this can expose your eyes to harsh light. Also called glare, this type of light is especially common in regions where there are lots of reflective surfaces, like the ocean.
A little glare is usually not bad, but being exposed to glare for too long can be extremely uncomfortable. In most cases, this leads to excessive squinting, which can cause the ocular muscles to fatigue. Other times, those with photosensitivity might find that glare can trigger painful migraines. Some evidence even suggests that too much glare can cause blurred vision or temporary sight loss.
With this in mind, wearing your standard shades is not enough. Instead, opt for polarized sunglasses instead. Made with coatings that prevent glare from penetrating the eyes, these sunnies improve visual acuity so you can actually perceive your surroundings better. For example, polarized sunnies with Prizm lenses can also heighten color contrast. It makes your vision less likely to feel “blown out” by bright lights.
Because glare can also come from snowy terrain, you don’t have to worry about this nomad eyewear being only seasonally useful. If possible, try to find a pair with a wider frame and wraparound style. In order to ensure that as little light as possible can reach your eyes.
Lubricating Eye Drops
Lack of lubrication makes you more prone to ocular irritation, injury, and infection. Because there is nothing to soothe the eyes. If you work in uncontrolled environments with debris, pollution, and sweat, a lack of lubrication can even trigger conditions like pink eye. Without lubrication to wash out irritants, you may even experience corneal abrasions.
While natural tears are usually enough, you want to go the extra mile as a digital nomad. This way, your eyes have enough lubrication to function optimally regardless of climate or location.
For this reason, try packing eye drops. These artificial tears create a barrier of protection against irritants while also soothing the eyes. Just ensure that the eye drops you buy are certified safe by local health agencies since some may contain potentially harmful chemicals.
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