Thinking about going on a road trip with your friends, but are unsure of how to take care of your contact lenses on the road? Lens.com has you covered!
In this post, we discuss how you can best take care of your eyes and contact lenses during a road trip in six easy steps.
- Keep your hands clean.
When on a road trip, the first and most important contact lens care tip you need to remember is to keep your hands clean. Never handle your contact lenses or touch your eyes unless your hands are clean.
Pack antibacterial soap, paper towels or clean hand towels, and even your own supply of water on your trip. Bringing your own water means you won’t have to worry if there is no source of clean running water on the road.Â
Avoid washing your hands and inserting or removing your contact lenses in gas station bathrooms, since they are not the most sanitary places. It’s better to bring antibacterial wipes and a bottle or two or hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol. This way, you can keep your hands clean without having to wash your hands with soap and water.
Keeping your hands clean prevents you from transferring bacteria to your contact lenses and eyes that can cause allergies and even serious eye infections.
- Wear dailies.
It can be challenging to follow a strict contact lens cleaning regimen when you’re on the road for hours on end, so it may not be advisable to wear bi-weekly or monthly contact lenses on a road trip.
The answer is to wear daily disposable contact lenses or dailies. With dailies, you wear the contact lenses at the beginning of the day, remove them at night, and start with fresh contact lenses the next day. Dailies are much easier to maintain on the road, giving you more time to enjoy your adventure. Just make sure your hands are clean before you handle your contact lenses.
- Bring extra contact lenses.
Going on a road trip exposes you to dust, pollen, allergens, and dirt. These elements can get into your eyes and latch on to your contacts. This is why you should always bring extra contact lenses with you on a road trip. By having extra contact lenses, you can easily wear fresh contact lenses if the ones you are wearing somehow get dirt on them and make them uncomfortable or painful to wear.
A good rule to follow is to bring an extra pair of contact lenses for each day of your trip. For example, if you set your road trip for two days, then you should bring at least two days’ worth of contact lenses with you. In addition, bring sets of lenses you’re already familiar and comfortable with. One of our top-selling daily disposable contact lenses, DAILIES Total 1, provides a high level of breathability and comfort throughout a road trip for wearers approved to use them.
- Bring prescription eyeglasses.
Never leave home without up-to-date prescription eyeglasses. You never know what can happen on the road. You could end up having eye allergies that make it impossible and unbearable to wear contact lenses. Having your glasses handy enables you to see clearly without having to wear contact lenses.
If your eyeglass prescription isn’t up-to-date, get an eye exam so that your professional can update your prescription and allow you to get new eyeglasses.Â
- Bring sunglasses.
On a road trip, you spend a lot of time outdoors exposed to sunlight. The best way to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV radiation is to wear sunglasses, so make sure you bring a pair of high-quality sunglasses with you.
For maximum protection, choose sunglasses with lenses that have UV 400 filters. These filters block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays. You should be able to find this information on the labels of sunglasses.
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- Lubricate your eyes.
Being on the road and spending time exposed to sunlight for extended periods can dry out your eyes. Prevent dry eyes by using over-the-counter lubricant eye drops or artificial tears that relieve the symptoms of dry eyes, redness, and allergic reactions. These products are generally safe to use as long as you use them as directed.
Conclusion
Follow our advice and you’ll be ready for your road trip, no matter where your destination might be. Just keep in mind that the information in this article is only a secondary resource—it is not meant to replace the advice of a licensed eye care professional.Â
