Desert grit

[Havikats]

We went to Quartzite yesterday and the wind was really blowing. Consequently I got a lot of grit in my eyes. This morning when I woke up I was oozing grit from my eyes.
I've noticed that more often than not, and even when the wind isn't really blowing, that my eyes feel like they have something in them. I realize now, that is grit, just like yesterday.
What do you all do to minimize this? Any suggestions? TIA

[Fat Girl]

I have been prone to using eye drops to keep my eyes from drying and to sort of help tear out the grit if I am out for long....

[Pet Social Worker]

I have been prone to using eye drops to keep my eyes from drying and to sort of help tear out the grit if I am out for long....

+1

[Desert Dweller]

Most likely it's scratches inside the eyelid which can make it feel just like there is something in there.  For this, use eye drops.

If it seems to move from place to place or you think there may be actual sand in there, flush your eyes with running water.  The eye wash stations at work call for 15 minutes of flushing.  Anyone who's been to one of the gulf wars is really familiar with this.  Sand in the eyes, ears, teeth, hair, you name it.

[Havikats]

Any special sort of eye drops? I used Visine when I got home.

[Desert Dweller]

That works.  Most of them are just sterile saline solution - I think some of them have some sort of lubricant.

[Havikats]

Would it help if I put it in prior?

[Baddeye]

Years ago when I had LASIK surgery they made me use some really thick eye drops, almost like a saline gel. They weren't medicated or anything and I could pick them up from the local drugstore in little single use packets. It will blur your vision for a couple of minutes but that goes away and you'll be fine.

Alternatively, just get a big bottle of regular ol' contact lens saline solution for a couple of bucks and use that to rinse your eyes out. 

Visine really just dries out your eyes, so avoid that.

[Havikats]

Years ago when I had LASIK surgery they made me use some really thick eye drops, almost like a saline gel. They weren't medicated or anything and I could pick them up from the local drugstore in little single use packets. It will blur your vision for a couple of minutes but that goes away and you'll be fine.

Alternatively, just get a big bottle of regular ol' contact lens saline solution for a couple of bucks and use that to rinse your eyes out. 

Visine really just dries out your eyes, so avoid that.

Thanks Badeye. That helps a lot.

[Vinny]

 if you wear contacts consider daily disposables. I had to switch to them after moving to the desert.

[Fat Girl]

if you wear contacts consider daily disposables. I had to switch to them after moving to the desert.

So true....the grit in the air is murder!

No matter how well you rinse and soak you seem to never get it all off the lenses

[Havikats]

I wear glasses and I am continually cleaning them down here. But, I'll take that evil over snow, ice and cold.

[Macrojamin]

I would recommend some better eye protection for when you are outside. Goggles?