Travel is a difficult activity. You shouldn’t have to worry about eye care on top of everything else if you wear contacts. Whether you are going on a trip for work or pleasure, a weekend break, or a month-long relocation, make sure to pack enough contact lenses and contact lens solutions so you won't run out while you are gone or be tempted to skip your regular cleaning routine.
1. Daily disposables for Acuvue
Traveling with contacts is easy and convenient with daily disposable lenses. With disposables, you can skip the usual cleaning procedure. You simply discard them at the end of the day. It’s not necessary to bring along all the extras, such as cases, contact lens cleaner, and extra pairs of contacts.
You must have a valid prescription from an eye doctor to utilize daily disposable contact lenses, so keep that in mind. You might be able to switch to using contact lenses every day. If you are interested, make an appointment with your eye doctor to discuss your options and, if required for your visual needs, get a new prescription.
2. Place your extra lenses in various bags
You don’t want to be seen with a single bag containing your contact lenses and other accessories. If you lose the bag or it is stolen, your journey will be miserable. Plan for the worst while hoping for the best. You should have one of everything in each of your suitcases. This guarantees that no matter what, you will always have supplies on hand.
3. Have a backup strategy ready
If you misplace your contacts or experience eye irritation, bring a spare pair of glasses.
Additionally, you might want to pack enough contact lens solutions to last you the duration of your vacation in addition to a spare pair of contact lenses kept in a leak-proof bag.
4. Consider taking your contacts
If you're taking a plane, think about waiting to put in your contacts until after you land. If you wear contacts, you won't want the air quality on a plane to cause dry eyes. Additionally, if you frequently take naps on flights or are traveling internationally, sleeping with your contacts could be difficult. Inadequate airflow beneath and around the lens may cause minor corneal tears. Consider packing your contacts in your carry-on and sporting some glasses when traveling by airline.
Your contacts will also travel with you to your destination if you keep them in your carry-on bag. In this manner, even if you misplace your luggage, you will still be able to view the sights.
5. Keep away from the water
Swimming with contacts is difficult, as we noted in a piece about frequently asked questions about contact lenses.
If you swim with your contacts in, you may develop a fungal infection, a viral infection, or a bacterial infection like Acanthamoeba keratitis, which can impair your vision permanently or possibly necessitate a corneal transplant.
Soft contact lenses can tighten around the surface of your eyes in fresh water and pools, which can have milder effects including dry eyes and irritation. When using contacts, you should stay away from the ocean, hot tubs, showers, and hotel pools. If it’s not possible, use disposable lenses or swim goggles and discard them afterward.
Bring your items in a carry-on bag. Make sure to pack a compact travel kit containing your spectacles, the travel-size solution, a lens case, and rewetting drops in your carry-on bag. On flights, I frequently travel with a little Acuvue solution bottle. If your contacts start to irritate you, if your eyes begin to dry up, or if you need to sleep on a long-haul journey, you don't want to be unable to remove them. Since dry air is frequently present on airplanes, you don't want to be caught off guard. In addition, do yourself a favor and bring a small bottle of hand sanitizer and a plastic bag. Bring your prescription with you.
It's a good idea to bring copies of your vision prescriptions with you if you're going abroad or want to be on the road for an extended period. You may receive a new pair of contacts whether you're in Australia or along the Jersey Shore since the numbers on your prescriptions are recognized all around the world.
Is your prescription for contact lenses current? It can be a good idea to make an appointment with your eye doctor a few weeks before you depart if you’re unsure or if you know it will soon expire sometime around the dates of your trip. You can then be sure that everything is up to date.
6. The Key is the lens solution
Without a contact lens solution, extended-wear contact lens wearers are helpless. Packing a full-size bottle of lens solution in your suitcase is the easiest approach—pun intended—if you're checking your luggage. A travel-sized bottle might not be a bad idea to include in your carry-on luggage. Keep in mind that any liquids you pack in your carry-on should weigh no more than 3.4 ounces and fit inside a plastic bag the size of a quart or a TSA-approved travel case. Make it a priority to get a regular-sized bottle of contact lens solution as soon as you land if a travel-sized bottle won't last you through your flight and you're not checking your luggage.
However, because contact lens solution is regarded as a medically permitted liquid, you are allowed to bring more of it on board; all you need to do is disclose it when you get to a TSA screening. Another piece of advice for travelers: squeeze the air out of any bottles that aren't filled to prevent your lens solution from leaking due to variations in cabin pressure.
7. Maintain the same cleaning schedule
When you’re abroad, it’s crucial to continue your usual contact lens cleaning practice. No matter how tired or rushed for time you are, wash your hands properly before touching your lens and avoid cutting corners.
8. Take a second set of sunglasses
If you wear contact lenses and are sensitive to sunlight, make sure to include an extra pair of sunglasses whenever you anticipate being out of the home. How awful it is to spend a whole day on a boat in the middle of the ocean with broken sunglasses is beyond my comprehension. Bring something, even if it's only one of those thin plastic bags from the gas station. You don't want the sun to burn your eyes while you are supposed to be enjoying your trip.
9. Use sunscreen safely
-
Bring your shades, of course. Wrap-around, polarized sunglasses are a good option if you know you'll be moving around a lot while traveling.
-
Additionally, you might want to buy UV-protective contacts, which provide an additional layer of protection.
-
Always bring a second bottle of contact lens solution in travel size. First of all, especially if you’re in a rural area, you don’t want to have to run out and try to find a bottle of saline. Second, you don’t want your sole bottle of contact lens solution to spill into your bag in the middle of a flight.
10. Never Forget to Bring Your Glasses
Even if you prefer to wear contacts all the time and want to reduce room in your suitcase, don't forget your glasses. Eventually, you'll need to wear glasses to give your eyes a break. Being comfortable is preferable to regretting not taking them afterward. If you're afraid of losing them, bring a spare pair. You will still be able to determine whether your contact lenses are missing.