Did you know that travelling increases your risk of eye infections? A study on eye disease found that various travel-related eye conditions can occur, especially among international travellers. After all, travelling exposes you to dryness and foreign elements that can get into your eyes when you touch unsanitary surfaces, participate in high-risk activities, and spend time at high altitudes or in places with low humidity. This is even more important if you wear contact lenses often, as unsanitary handling of such lenses can further increase your risk of infections.
To avoid this and enjoy your future trips, here are a few ways you can travel safely while wearing contact lenses:
Opt for daily disposable contact lenses.
The improper use of contact lenses can turn them into homes for bacteria and viruses. You’ll have an extremely high chance of developing infections when you mishandle or touch them with unsanitary hands—something that’s very hard to avoid when travelling.
To prevent this, wear disposable daily contact lenses to give foreign elements less opportunity to spread and multiply. Many brands sell 30-day packs convenient for travelling. There are the ACUVUE OASYS daily contact lenses, which are moist and breathable to prevent dry eye. If you require vision correction, you can get astigmatic and toric contacts, too, with the OPSM Loves Eyes, which is great for custom prescriptions. Using dailies also means you don’t need to pack contact solution, either, since these are already packed in liquid.
Practise safe contact lens handling.
Even if you’re already using dailies, you still need to know how to handle your contacts safely to further prevent infections. Of course, the first step is to disinfect your hands before touching your eyes and your contacts. The doorknobs, armrests, and railings you’ll encounter in tourist destinations and in transit can carry millions of bacteria that can infect your eyes.
You must also know when and where to wear and remove your contact lenses. If you’re travelling to a snowy area, you can suffer from snow blindness due to the sun’s reflection on the snow. Remove your contacts before skiing or other activities, as these can worsen temporary snow blindness. The same applies to sandy and dusty locations where particles can get trapped under your contacts and scratch your eyes.
Bring eye drops.
Even if you’re careful in handling your contacts, you’re never completely safe from getting eye infections. Dust, particles, and other elements can enter your eyes, causing styes, pink eye, and itching.
You can prevent any irritation from getting worse by using eye drops to clean out your eyes and temporarily relieve itchiness and stinging until you can get to an optician. Eye drops can also lubricate your eyes when they get dry from travelling or being in different environments. Eyezep eye drops can treat red and itchy eyes due to allergens and dust mites, while Blink Contacts eye drops can be used over your contact lenses—even disposables—to retain moisture, so look into different brands before making a purchase.
Wear sunglasses over your contacts.
While contact lenses can address your visual and prescription needs, not all have UV protection. Shielding your eyes from the sun’s UV rays is essential because these can cause damage, leading to cataract formation, worsening eyesight, and early vision loss.
This is why sunglasses are crucial, even if you wear contacts. Fortunately, there are many stylish sunglasses that can complement your outfit and facial features while also offering UV protection. Nifties Eyewear makes sunglasses for travellers with petite faces, ensuring a secure fit even when you’re busy navigating the airport or going on guided tours. On the other hand, Ray-Ban makes sunglasses in classic styles, like the Aviators and Wayfarers, matching any outfit you’ve packed for your trip. Not to mention, its lenses offer 100% UV protection.
Wearing contacts is very convenient for travelling, but you must be careful to avoid infections. Remember these tips for healthy eyes and an enjoyable trip!
