When you’re out on the road, you want to be able to see clearly without any worry. If you’ve decided contact lenses are the best option for you, it’s important to be prepared when traveling. The last thing you want is to realize you don’t have the needed supplies when you’re ready to take out your lenses after a long day of travel.
In this article, we’ll discuss what you need to know about traveling with soft contact lenses.
What to Pack When Traveling with Contact Lenses
It would be great if you only needed to pack your contact lenses. However, to avoid travel hassles, it’s best to be a little more prepared. Here are some items to pack when traveling with contact lenses:
- Extra lenses. Even if you use weekly or monthly contacts and you won’t be gone that long, it’s always good to have an extra pair. If you wear dailies, bring 2-3 extra pairs. You never know when you’re going to drop one of your contacts or misplace your lens case.
- Backup glasses. You can bring these instead of backup lenses or in addition to them. With my luck, I’d manage to lose my backup lenses too, so I would definitely bring glasses in addition to the backup contacts. Glasses may also be a better choice if you find your eyes are unexpectedly irritated due to outdoor allergens, etc.
- Contact lens solution. Most contact solutions are sold in travel-size bottles (TSA has a 3.4-ounce carry-on limit for liquids if you’re flying), so you don’t have to worry about losing your full-size bottle. Again, it doesn’t hurt to have a backup, as contact solution is the only thing you can safely use to clean your lenses. One idea is to order two bottles of the travel-size solution and keep one in a separate area of your luggage, so you won’t be as likely to lose both.
- Wondering where to buy travel-sized contact lens solution? You can easily order it online. You can buy travel-sized bottles of solution at many eyewear retailers, including EZContacts.
- Prescription. It’s always smart to have a copy of your prescription stored on your phone (and probably in the Cloud as well). Consider it an insurance policy in case you do manage to lose your contacts, your spare contacts, and your backup glasses. While this is unlikely to happen, you never know what might go wrong when traveling.
- A new lens case. It can be a good idea to begin your trip with a fresh lens case, especially if it’s over a month old. In general, lens cases should be replaced every 1-3 months, or any time you notice cracks, scratches, or color changes in the case. No one wants to deal with an eye infection while on the road!
- Rewetting drops. While many contact lenses use technology that helps keep moisture in the eyes, some contact lens users still suffer from dry eyes. Additionally, traveling to a different area with less humidity can also contribute to dry eyes. For these reasons, try to carry an extra bottle of rewetting drops.
How to Care for Your Contact Lenses While Traveling
Continue to follow your doctor’s directions for cleaning and storing your lenses. That means washing your hands carefully before handling them. If you will be in a situation where this might be difficult, consider how you will deal with it now, so you don’t have to figure it out while traveling.
For instance, if you’re going camping in a very rural area without access to running water, you may want to consider wearing your glasses instead of contacts. In this situation, you should also think about whether a glasses strap or prescription sunglasses might be a worthwhile investment for your trip.
FAQs
What if I forgot and didn’t pack my contact lens solution? What else can I clean my contacts with?
While a quick internet search will turn up all sorts of suggestions for alternatives to contact lens solution, none of these are safe to use. If you forgot your contact lens solution, your best bet is to find a nearby store and buy some. You can learn about contact lens solution in this article.
If that isn’t an option, you may need to retire the contacts you’re wearing and switch to a new pair or your backup glasses until you can get your hands on a bottle of contact lens solution.
If cleaning my contacts will be a hassle on my upcoming trip, can I just switch to dailies for the time being?
Yes, this could be an option if you will find it difficult to clean and store your contacts safely. If you’re interested in this, reach out to your eye doctor. You’ll typically need a new prescription if you’re switching from monthlies to dailies.
Make sure you pack enough dailies for your trip, including 2-3 extra pairs in case your return is delayed or you drop/lose one. Most dailies are sold in a minimum of 30 per box, or a one-month supply.
I’m traveling somewhere very hot. Will the temperature affect my contact lenses?
It’s possible. High temperatures can cause contact lenses to dry out, leaving the lenses warped, stiff, or blurry. Here’s what to do if a contact dries out in its contact lens case.
If the contact dries out, you’ll need to switch to a different pair; another reason to always pack extra! It’s also smart to store your contacts in the shade, in an air-conditioned building, or any place with cooler temperatures.
