Why you should travel with contact lenses in your hand luggage

Travelling can be exciting but sometimes things don’t go exactly to plan. Flight delays, cancelled connections and lost luggage can put a damper on your holiday travels. 

It’s always good to be prepared for any situation when away from home. If you wear contact lenses, it’s even more important to plan ahead.

Keep this guide in mind when packing your contact lenses for any short city break or extended holiday. 

Pack contact lenses in your hand luggage

Post-pandemic travel shows no signs of slowing, and airports and airlines have been struggling to keep up with demand. Flight delays and cancellations have led to an increase in problems before and after takeoff. 

Unfortunately, lost luggage has also become a major concern for airport personnel and passengers alike. It’s important to pack extra contact lenses in your hand luggage in the event your checked bag doesn’t reach its final destination or arrives a few days behind schedule. 

As illustrated in the image below, searches for lost luggage have increased significantly since 2021. 

And lost luggage problems aren’t concentrated to just one airline either. In the chart below, you’ll see the top percentages of Google searches for lost luggage associated with four major airlines. 

Always be sure to pack enough lenses to last the duration of your trip especially if you wear daily disposable lenses. Dailies don't require any cleaning or storage. Simply dispose of them at night and put in a fresh pair in the morning - a great option for travel. Remember to pack contact solution and cases if needed to clean and store your lenses.

Even if your luggage doesn't go missing, bring back-up glasses along just in case a contact lens gets lost at sea or up a mountain. 

Liquid restrictions for hand luggage

Different airlines and countries have their own specific rules regarding hand luggage and liquid restrictions. Check your airline’s policies before flying to avoid issues at airport security. 

In the UK, contact lens solution must be 100 ml or less and stored in a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag that measures approximately 20 cm x 20 cm. Contact lens blister packages are considered liquids and must also be kept in your resealable plastic bag. 

Never transfer contact solution from a large bottle into a smaller one. Although it’s tempting, doing so compromises the sterility of the solution. Buy a travel-size solution and pack a larger bottle in your checked luggage if you’ll be travelling for more than a week. 

Combat dry plane air with eye drops

Plane cabins are unpleasantly dry. The recycled air dehydrates you which can lead to dry eyes and discomfort. Eye drops relieve dryness and irritation quickly.  

Remember to follow your eye care specialist’s recommendations pertaining to your eyes and lenses. Never sleep in your lenses unless they’re designed for it - not even a quick nap. Wear your glasses instead if your eyes need a rest.

Bring a copy of your contact lens prescription

Finally, always bring a copy of your prescription along. If the country you’re in requires a prescription to order lenses, you’ll be able to speed up the process if yours is handy. It’s easy to snap a photo and keep it stored in your phone. Scheduling an eye exam shouldn't have to be part of anyone's travel itinerary. 

 

Never get caught without contacts. Keep these basic tips in mind when packing contact lenses so you can enjoy every step of your journey.