Contact Lens Care While Traveling
Preparing Your Contact Lens Supplies Before You Leave
Always place your contact lens supplies in your carry-on luggage rather than checked baggage. This way, you will have immediate access if your checked bag is delayed or lost.
- Fresh contact lens solution in a travel-size bottle
- Your contact lens case with a secure, leak-proof lid
- Extra pairs of lenses in their original sealed packaging
- Rewetting drops approved for contact lens use
- A small bottle of hand sanitizer for times when soap and water are not available
We recommend packing at least one pair of backup glasses with your current prescription. If you experience eye irritation, develop an infection, or lose a lens during your trip, glasses allow your eyes to rest while you seek replacement lenses or care.
Pack more contact lenses than you think you will need, especially for extended trips. A good rule is to bring 50 percent more than your usual supply to account for unexpected delays or lens damage.
Transportation security rules allow you to carry contact lens solution in containers of 3.4 ounces or less in your carry-on bag. These containers must fit in a single quart-size clear plastic bag along with other liquids.
Larger bottles of solution should go in checked luggage, or you can purchase full-size solution at your destination. Many travelers find it easier to buy fresh solution after arriving rather than packing heavy bottles.
Keep a copy of your contact lens prescription with you when traveling, either as a printed document or a photo on your phone. This information includes the brand, power, base curve, and diameter of your lenses.
If you need to replace lenses while traveling, having your prescription details helps local eye care providers supply the correct product quickly. Our eye doctor can provide a written copy before your departure.
Practicing Good Hygiene While Traveling
Clean hands are essential before touching your contact lenses or your eyes. When traveling, restroom facilities may not always have soap or running water, so you need to plan ahead.
- Wash your hands with soap and water whenever possible before handling lenses
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer as a second option, then let your hands dry completely
- Avoid touching your face or eyes with unwashed hands on planes, buses, or trains
- Consider using daily disposable lenses to minimize the need for lens handling
Never rinse your contact lenses or lens case with tap water, even in developed countries. Tap water contains microorganisms that can cause serious eye infections, including a rare but dangerous infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis.
Use only fresh contact lens solution for rinsing and storing your lenses. If you run out of solution, it is safer to dispose of your lenses and use backup glasses until you can purchase more solution.
Hotel bathrooms can expose your contact lens supplies to moisture, bacteria, and temperature changes. We recommend storing your lens case and solution in a clean, dry area away from the sink and shower.
Replace the solution in your lens case every time you store your lenses, and never top off old solution with fresh solution. Empty your case each morning, rinse it with fresh solution (not water), and let it air dry upside down on a clean tissue.
Daily disposable contact lenses offer the most convenient and hygienic option for travelers. You wear each lens once and throw it away at the end of the day, eliminating the need to carry solution or a lens case.
- No cleaning or storage required during your trip
- Lower risk of infection compared to reusable lenses
- Easy to pack in lightweight, individual packages
- Ideal for destinations with limited access to clean water
Protecting Your Eyes in Different Travel Environments
Airplane cabins have very low humidity, often below 20 percent, which can make your eyes feel dry and uncomfortable. This dryness causes your contact lenses to feel tight or gritty during flight.
Use preservative-free rewetting drops designed for contact lens wearers throughout your flight. Remove your lenses before sleeping on long flights, and consider wearing glasses during travel days to give your eyes a break from the dry cabin air.
Contact lenses should not be exposed to any type of water, including swimming pools, hot tubs, lakes, rivers, or oceans. Water exposure increases your risk of serious eye infections that can threaten your vision.
We recommend removing your contact lenses before swimming and wearing prescription swim goggles instead. If you must wear contacts in water, use daily disposable lenses and throw them away immediately after exposure, then disinfect your eyes with rewetting drops.
Hot and humid climates can affect your contact lens comfort and increase the risk of bacterial growth on your lenses. Sweat and environmental debris may also enter your eyes more easily in tropical locations.
- Carry rewetting drops to maintain moisture and flush out particles
- Remove and clean your lenses more frequently if they feel uncomfortable
- Store your lens supplies in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
- Watch for signs of infection such as redness, pain, or discharge
Cold, windy conditions can dry out your contact lenses and irritate your eyes. Wind also carries dust and debris that can get trapped under your lenses, causing discomfort.
Wear wraparound sunglasses or protective eyewear when outdoors in cold or windy weather. Apply rewetting drops before going outside to create a moisture barrier, and blink frequently to keep your lenses hydrated.
Crossing multiple time zones can disrupt your normal contact lens wearing schedule and make it hard to remember when to change your lenses. Fatigue from travel also makes your eyes more sensitive.
Keep track of your lens replacement schedule based on calendar days rather than the time of day. If you are too tired to properly clean your lenses, switch to glasses for the evening rather than risking improper care or sleeping in lenses not approved for overnight wear.
Handling Contact Lens Emergencies on the Road
A torn or lost contact lens is one of the most common travel mishaps. If you notice a tear or damage to your lens, remove it immediately to avoid eye irritation or injury.
Use one of your backup lenses from your travel supply and dispose of the damaged lens. If you run out of replacement lenses, wear your backup glasses and visit a local eye care provider with your prescription information to obtain additional lenses.
Eye infections and injuries require prompt attention, even while traveling. Recognizing the warning signs helps you seek care before a minor problem becomes serious.
- Persistent eye pain or a feeling that something is stuck in your eye
- Increasing redness that does not improve after removing your lenses
- Blurred vision or sensitivity to light
- Yellow or green discharge from your eye
- Excessive tearing or difficulty keeping your eye open
Certain symptoms mean you should remove your contact lenses right away and switch to glasses. Continuing to wear lenses when your eyes are irritated can worsen the problem and delay healing.
Remove your lenses immediately if you experience sudden pain, vision changes, or unusual discharge. Do not put your lenses back in until your symptoms completely resolve, and seek professional eye care if problems persist beyond a few hours.
Before you travel, research eye care options at your destination in case you need urgent help. Many cities have walk-in eye clinics or urgent care centers with optometrists on staff.
Your hotel concierge can often direct you to nearby eye care providers, or you can search online for emergency eye services. If you experience severe pain, sudden vision loss, or symptoms of a serious infection, seek immediate medical attention at the nearest hospital emergency department.
Post-Travel Contact Lens Care and Follow-Up
Take time to check your eyes carefully after returning from travel. Look in a mirror in good lighting to see if your eyes appear red, irritated, or different from normal.
If you notice persistent redness, discomfort, or vision changes after your trip, these signs may indicate that your eyes need a break from contact lenses or professional evaluation. Give your eyes at least 24 hours of rest by wearing glasses before resuming your normal lens wearing schedule.
Replace your contact lens case with a fresh one after returning from your trip. Travel exposes your case to different environments and potential contamination that regular cleaning cannot always eliminate.
- Throw away any partially used bottles of contact lens solution
- Dispose of your travel lens case even if it looks clean
- Discard any lenses that may have been exposed to water or kept beyond their replacement schedule
- Start fresh with new supplies to reduce infection risk
If you experienced any eye problems during your trip, schedule an appointment with our eye doctor within a few days of returning home. Even if your symptoms have improved, an examination ensures that no lasting damage occurred.
We may recommend a brief break from contact lenses to allow your eyes to fully recover. Bring your travel contact lenses with you to the appointment if you experienced discomfort, as examining them can help identify the cause of your problems.
Ease back into your regular contact lens routine gradually after travel, especially if you experienced dry eyes or irritation during your trip. Start by wearing your lenses for shorter periods and increase the time as your eyes adjust.
Resume your usual cleaning and storage routine, and pay extra attention to hand hygiene and lens case care. If you switched to daily disposable lenses during travel and found them more comfortable, ask our eye doctor about making the change permanent.
Frequently Asked Questions
We advise against wearing contact lenses during snorkeling or scuba diving because water exposure significantly increases infection risk. Prescription dive masks or daily disposable lenses worn under a well-sealed mask (and discarded immediately after) may be considered in specific cases, but the safest approach is to avoid lens wear during water activities.
If you accidentally sleep in contact lenses not approved for overnight wear, do not remove them immediately upon waking if they feel stuck. Apply rewetting drops and wait a few minutes for your lenses to rehydrate, then gently remove them and give your eyes several hours of rest before inserting fresh lenses.
Contact lens solutions sold in other countries may meet different safety standards and contain different ingredients than products approved in the United States. We recommend bringing enough solution from home or purchasing recognized international brands that meet current safety guidelines whenever possible.
No, you should never rinse contact lenses with any type of water, including bottled, distilled, or filtered water. All water sources can contain microorganisms that cause eye infections. If you run out of solution, dispose of your lenses and wear glasses until you can purchase proper solution.
Tired eyes from travel often benefit from a break from contact lenses. Switch to glasses for a day or two to let your eyes recover from the stress of travel, changing time zones, and exposure to different environments, then gradually resume wearing your lenses once you feel rested.
Redness or irritation lasting more than 48 hours after returning home warrants professional evaluation. Stop wearing your contact lenses and contact our office for an appointment, as persistent symptoms may indicate an infection, allergic reaction, or corneal damage that needs treatment.
Getting Help with Contact Lens Care While Traveling
Our eye doctor is here to help you prepare for safe and comfortable contact lens wear during your travels. Schedule a visit before your trip to discuss your specific travel plans, obtain extra supplies, and get personalized recommendations for your destination and activities.