Contact Lenses for Vacation: What to Know
Posted On May 22, 2026
Getting ready to go on summer vacation? I’m excited for you! However, if you’re a contact lens wearer, let’s be sure you’ve thought through some things you’ll want to pack before you fully go into “vacation-mode.” 
- An extra pair of contact lenses
- Pack an extra pair (or perhaps multiple extra pairs) of your contacts, to account for any potential mishaps, e.g. a torn or lost lens
- Contact lens solution + case
- Daily disposable lenses make travel super convenient! If you’re a daily disposable contact lens wearer, there’s no need to pack a case or any cleaning solution.
- If you wear a weekly/biweekly/monthly replacement lens, be sure to pack your contact lens solution and contact lens case so you can properly clean and store your lenses on the trip. If you’re flying and don’t plan on checking your bag, you’ll want to purchase and pack a travel-sized bottle of multipurpose solution.
- Artificial tears (i.e. lubricating eye drops)
- Air travel in particular can dry out your eyes. Lubricating drops that you can use with or without your contacts are nice to have in your travel bag to help manage any dryness.
- Glasses/Sunglasses
- Having your glasses with you can be helpful for long plane rides, early mornings or late evenings when you want a break from wearing contacts, or if you are unable to wear your contacts for whatever reason (e.g. irritated eyes, misplaced your contacts, etc.)
- Protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays! Be sure you pack your sunglasses with you to wear on the beach, on that hike, for sightseeing, etc.
- A copy of your contact lens prescription
- It’s not a bad idea to have your contact lens RX with you, or at least be sure you can access a digital copy on your phone
- I’ve known people to pack the wrong contacts before (i.e. multiple contact lenses of the right eye RX and none of the left eye RX) – in this scenario, a local optometry office may be so kind as to provide you with free trial lenses. However:
- They will want to verify that you have a current/valid RX, and
- Be sure that you ask nicely!
(Please also note: even if you have a valid RX and ask nicely, they may still ask that you purchase boxes instead.)
Woohoo! Now that you’ve packed these 5 things for your trip, you can feel confident that your eyes will be well taken care of. Time to set that out-of-office message and start relaxing!
Written by: Dr. Jennifer Thai
