If you’re a contact lens wearer and used to the ease of access to opticians or the delivery speed of online retailers in the UK, you’re bound to be a little apprehensive when travelling abroad. Confusion generally starts at the airport, where it’s easy to forget that, for example, if you’re a dailies wearer, these will come in blisters with saline solution, so subject to airport security rules on liquids.
So, to help you in the process and take the stress away, here are some tips to make your life easier when travelling with contacts.
1 Talk to your optometrist before you travel
Talk to your optician before you go on holiday to find out the best way to make sure your contact lenses stay safe and that your eye health is in good condition when travelling.
There may be some kinds of lenses that can be more convenient for you than your usual pair – like disposable dailies, for example if you usually wear weeklies.
2 Pack backups
It’s important to pack backups for your holiday in case you lose anything during your flight and transfers, and you don’t want to get caught out with anything you might need urgently, such as contacts solution or drops.
This backup rule also applies to contact lenses, so it’s a good idea to have some extra ones, just in case you end up needing them. However, if you’re in the unfortunate to lose any, don’t despair. Depending on where in the world you are, many UK retailers will deliver these with lightning speed, anywhere between 24 hours and 4-5 days.
3 Hygiene first
It’s not often we get to chill out in hot tubs or take part in water activities so it’s an easy one to miss, but any kind of water activity can pose a risk to your eye health as water is a breeding ground for germs to spread.
With this in mind, it’s a good idea to wash your hands and pop out your contact lenses before taking a dip into any kind of water and change your lenses when you get back onto dry land.
4 Consider contact lens travel packs
Did you know you can get small travel bottles of lens solution to take with you on holiday? This can help you avoid the hassle of having a larger contact lens solution container held at airport security. A travel pack can also be lighter on your luggage.
If you like the sound of that, then the best option for you might be travel-pack cases. These are an especially great choice if you have a short flight.
5 Keep your lenses and eyes hydrated
In-flight air conditioning can dry out your contact lenses and make your eyes feel uncomfortable.
The easiest way to deal with this problem is by taking eye drops and keeping them somewhere accessible.
6 Take your lenses out before sleeping
It can be easy to forget to take your lenses out before bed, especially after a long day of food, drink and activities on holiday.
If you really find it hard to remember to remove your contact lenses before bed, one good way to remind yourself is to set an alarm on your phone.
7 Get enough sleep
We often forget to simply be kind to our eyes, and one of the ways to do so is by getting enough sleep and making sure we blink often.
This is especially the case if you wear contact lenses, as making sure you get enough sleep and that you are taking regular eye breaks helps to keep your eyes bright and hydrated.