Getting ready to travel with contact lenses
Whether you’re traveling for business or going on vacation, it’s easy to slip out of your normal routine. Maybe you skip your daily workouts. Perhaps you overindulge in food and fun. You might even fail to follow your usual regimen for wearing and caring for your contact lenses.
Unfortunately, slacking off when it comes to your contacts could result in hassles, discomfort or an eye infection.
Here are some effective tips for being prepared and equipped to travel with contact lenses.
Consider the weather and conditions where you’re going
Weather and environmental conditions can affect how comfortable contact lenses feel. For example, lower humidity has been associated with higher rates of dry eye symptoms, which may affect contact lens comfort.
Being at a higher altitude may also increase the risk of dry eye. This is because these areas often have drier air.
Additionally, areas with higher levels of pollution, such as large cities, can contribute to dry eye symptoms compared with cleaner environments.
In order to combat dry eyes and wear your contacts more comfortably in any environment, you can try rewetting drops. Just make sure that they are safe to use with contacts.
Choose the right type of contacts for your trip
Choosing contact lenses that match your travel plans can make things much easier. Daily disposable contact lenses are often a practical option because they are worn once and then thrown away. This means there is no need to pack contact lens solution or a storage case, and you start each day with a fresh pair of lenses.
Because these lenses are replaced daily, it can also lessen the risk of an eye infection. If you are considering this option, it may be worth asking your eye doctor whether a travel supply of daily disposables is appropriate for your trip and your vision needs.
Pack extra lenses, backup glasses and your prescription
When packing, make sure to bring extra contact lenses, enough contact solution, a lens case and eye drops for the full length of your trip. It’s a good idea to bring about twice the number of contact lenses you think you’ll need. This is especially important for daily contacts. It covers you for delays, damage or lost luggage.
At least a few weeks before you pack your business suit or bathing suit, get your eyes checked to make sure your contact lens and eyeglass prescriptions are up to date.
Aside from bringing a pair of backup glasses with you, put copies of your prescriptions in an accessible bag in case of an emergency. You can also make sure to have a digital copy of your prescription on your phone in case of an emergency.
The numbers on your prescriptions should be widely recognized in many countries, though there are regional differences. It’s important to buy contact lenses only from trusted, authorized sellers and to wear only lenses that have been prescribed specifically for you. Using contacts that aren’t properly prescribed or fitted can increase the risk of eye irritation, infections and other vision problems.
Packing contact lenses when you’re flying
Flying can come with specific packing challenges, especially for liquids and essential items. A little planning can help you make sure you don’t lose your contact lenses or supplies.
Choose between carry-on and checked luggage
When traveling with contact lenses, it helps to plan where your supplies are packed in case travel does not go as expected. Store important vision items in your carry-on. Include extra contact lenses, spare glasses and a small amount of solution. This way, you can care for your lenses easily if your checked luggage is delayed or missing.
Checked luggage is for items you won’t need on the flight. This includes extra boxes of contact lenses or larger amounts of solution.
Once you decide how to divide your supplies, be sure to follow airline security rules for liquids in carry-on luggage.
Follow the TSA rules for contact solution
Whether you’re flying to Boston or Budapest, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations could affect you as a wearer of contact lenses.
TSA allows contact lenses in both carry-on and checked bags, but contact lens solution is another story.
A container of contact lens solution in your carry-on can’t hold more than 3.4 ounces. Also, all your carry-on liquids must fit in a clear, quart-sized plastic bag.
The amount of liquids in your checked bag isn’t restricted.
Wearing contact lenses while you travel
Travel days often involve long hours, dry air and changes to your normal routine. Being mindful of how you wear your contacts can help keep your eyes comfortable during the trip.
Protect your eyes from dry air and eye strain on long flights
Commercial aircraft cabins are pressurized to levels lower than those at ground level and typically have limited humidity and drier air. Oxygen availability can also be reduced compared with normal atmospheric conditions.
Together, these environmental factors can make the eyes feel dry or irritated and may increase contact lens discomfort.
During air travel, particularly on extended trips, many people find their eyes feel better when they choose eyeglasses instead of contact lenses.
Avoid sleeping in your contacts
When lenses remain on the eye during sleep, they can interfere with normal oxygen flow and create conditions that make it easier for germs to affect the cornea, the clear surface that protects the front of your eye.
Sleeping in contact lenses also greatly increases the risk of a serious fungal eye infection called microbial keratitis. This higher risk applies to all types of contacts, including soft, hard, cosmetic and prescription lenses. Even occasionally falling asleep in your contacts can raise the chance of infection.
In order to protect your eye health, wear your contacts only for the recommended period and resist the urge to leave your contact lenses in overnight.
Keep lenses safe around water, dust and other irritants
Contact lenses can easily collect dust, debris and other irritants in certain settings. If a lens falls out or is dropped, the best thing to do is replace the lens with a new one in order to reduce the chance of irritation or infection. Water activities pose similar risks.
Whether you want to splash around in the ocean or do laps in the hotel swimming pool, remove your contacts before entering the water.
Your risk of fungal, bacterial or amoeba-borne eye infections goes up when you wear contacts while swimming.
Here are three tips for wearers of contact lenses who do decide to keep them in while swimming:
- Wear daily disposable contacts, if possible, and toss them once you’re done swimming.
- Put on goggles before going into the water.
- Throw soft contacts away after getting out of the water, even if they’re not daily disposable contacts.
Fixing contact lens problems on your trip
Lost lenses, irritation or discomfort can happen when you are away from home. Knowing what to do can help you protect your eyes. It also lets you handle problems safely until you get back.
Watch for signs you should remove your lenses
If one or both of your eyes become red or painful, you experience blurry vision or have sensitivity to light, remove your contact lenses right away. After that:
- Contact your doctor immediately for a checkup.
- Wear glasses until you can get your eyes checked by a doctor.
- Obey your eye doctor’s orders about your contacts. For instance, if your doctor tells you to stop wearing contacts for a week to give your eyes time to heal, follow their advice.
If you’ll be visiting a place with less-than-ideal hygiene conditions, consider using daily disposable contact lenses. With disposables, you can toss them each night without having to clean or store them.
No matter what, always make sure to use proper handwashing hygiene every time you remove or put in your contacts.
Know what to do if you lose or damage a contact
Contact lenses should always be worn on the schedule recommended by your eye doctor, including when they need to be replaced.
If lenses have been sitting in a case for an extended period, they may need to be disinfected again before use. Lenses that have remained stored for a month or longer without being properly disinfected should not be worn, as this can raise the chance of eye irritation or infection.
It is also important to have a backup plan while traveling. Bringing a pair of glasses allows you to see comfortably if you lose a lens or need to stop wearing contacts for a short time.
If you need to replace lost contacts, use caution when buying lenses. Stay away from any places that do not require an up-to-date prescription, such as a street vendor.
Contact lens travel checklist
Before you zip up your suitcase, take a moment to double-check that you have the essentials for wearing and caring for your contact lenses on the go:
- Physical or digital copy of your prescription
- Backup glasses
- Contact lens case
- Enough contact lenses to last your entire trip (if you wear daily disposable lenses)
- A brand new travel-sized contact lens solution
- Rewetting drops approved for contact lenses
Keeping these essentials in a handy place can make travel easier. It also helps you deal with surprises, like lost lenses or dry eyes.
