Five Things to Think About When Traveling with Contact Lenses

The convenience of contact lenses certainly can’t be beaten, and for those of us who have been wearing them for a long time, we have a well-established routine at home that allows us to take optimal care of them. Yet when you travel, that routine can sometimes be disrupted. However, that’s no excuse to sacrifice proper eye health, so let’s consider five things to keep in mind when you travel as a contact lens wearer:

1. Bring your prescription with you

All too often our contact lens prescription becomes an afterthought - we don’t know where that little piece of paper is half of the time and we certainly don’t carry it with us. But what if something happens while you’re on vacation and your eye care provider is closed for the day? It’s always smart to bring a paper copy of your valid contact lens prescription with you whenever you’re far from home.

2. Pack backup glasses

 You never know what can happen when you’re on vacation! Maybe you wake up with your eyes feeling tired and dry or you lost one of your contacts when unpacking in your hotel bathroom. Whatever the case might be, you’ll want to bring your glasses with you just in case. If that’s not an appealing option, be sure to visit Associated Eyecare for an updated style before you head out of town.

3. Extra lenses won’t hurt

It’s a smart idea to think about how many pairs of contacts you’ll need to pack for your trip, especially if you’re a daily lens wearer. But as we’ve mentioned above, you never know what could happen, and bringing extra lenses with you is a wise move. If you wear daily disposable lenses, pack at least three to four extra sets as they hardly take up much room. Those who opt for biweekly or monthly schedules should be fine with one extra pair.

4. Maintain moisture

Our eyes are sensitive to the environment around us, and if you’re heading somewhere by plane, there’s a high likelihood that you’ll experience a fair amount of dryness. We recommend flying with your glasses on rather than contacts, as this will be far more comfortable for the duration of your travels. Pack rewetting drops that are designed specifically for contact lens wearers too, allowing you to add some moisture whenever you need it.

5. Stick to a schedule

From late nights out on the town to early mornings to catch a plane, traveling can certainly throw our normal schedules for a loop. While it might be hard to maintain any semblance of a routine, especially if you’re jetlagged, your eyes will thank you if you stick to your normal contact lens schedule. Remember to replace your lenses according to your wearing schedule, clean them each night, and wear them only as often as you would at home.

Traveling with contact lenses doesn’t have to be stressful but a little bit of planning will certainly help! If you’re running low on your contact lenses or find that your backup glasses need some extra attention, visit Associated Eyecare today!