Contact lenses can be a great way to see the world without the need for glasses, but we’d be lying if we didn’t acknowledge the fact that they do also come with their own set of challenges. Travelling with any special requirement requires a little bit of extra planning, so here are four essential tips for travelling with contact lenses and contact lens wearers who are planning their next trip.
BRING PLENTY OF SPARES
Accidents happen – contact lenses can be lost or broken and although this wouldn’t ordinarily cause a problem at home, when you are abroad you can’t order replacements quite as easily. To make sure that you have plenty of spares, buy contact lenses online and take more than you think you could ever need. If you wear dailies, then double what you would usually bring for the duration of your trip, if you wear monthlies, then bring 2 additional pairs. It may seem like overkill, but when you are out of your comfort zone the last thing you want to be worrying about is whether you can see.
BRING YOUR GLASSES
Even with plenty of additional spares, you can’t forget to bring your glasses. If your eyes become sore, irritated, or infected while you are abroad, then you may be unable to wear the lenses that you have prepared. Without your glasses to fall back on, you risk causing more damage to your eyes by wearing lenses when you have a problem and you could end up having to spend a lot of money on a pair of glasses abroad. Be sure to put your glasses in a hard and durable case so that they are protected from any knocks or banks and bring some glasses cleaner just in case.
KEEP THEM IN YOUR HAND LUGGAGE
Lost luggage is a nightmare at the best of times, but even more so if you have essentials in there that cannot be easily replaced. To make sure that you can still see on your trip, even if your bag does go walkabout, keep your spare contact lenses and your glasses with you in your hand luggage. If you have a lot of contact lenses and are worried about the limitation on liquids within your hand luggage, then portion out as many as you can, or if you are travelling with friends then ask them to take some for you.
MAINTAIN GOOD CONTACT LENS HYGIENE
Good contact lens hygiene is essential at the best of times, but even more so in countries where the water may not be as sanitary or where you are exposed to a lot of dust and dirt. If you are embarking on an epic camping experience, trekking or unable to regularly wash your hands properly, then consider wearing glasses or at the very least switching to daily contact lenses that can be disposed of at the end of each day. It can be very easy to allow your contact lens regime to slack when living in unfamiliar conditions, so be extra mindful of washing your hands and how you are storing your lenses to stop yourself from contracting an infection.
So there you have it – four essential tips for all contact lens wearing travellers.
Do you have any to add?
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This has been a collaborative post. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are not my own
