Eye Care on Vacation: 9 Essential Tips for Contact Lens Wearers

Heading away on holiday? Your eyes deserve as much preparation as your suitcase. There’s nothing worse than dealing with irritated, red, or dry eyes while you’re meant to be relaxing. Whether you’re off on a tropical escape, a snowy adventure, or a long-haul journey, taking a few simple precautions can help you avoid inconvenience and enjoy comfortable, clear vision the entire time.

1. Book an Eye Check Before Travelling

Even if your vision feels stable, your prescription may have changed without you noticing. Before you fly, make time for a quick check-up with your optometrist. This ensures you're using the right prescription throughout your trip, and it also lets you get expert advice on travel-friendly eye drops or solutions. Ask for both a printed and digital copy of your prescription so you’ll have it handy in case you need replacement lenses overseas.

2. Pack a Proper Eye-Care Travel Kit

It’s easy to overlook your eye-care essentials when you’re planning a trip, but having everything in one small kit makes travelling significantly easier. Make sure you bring spare contact lenses, your prescription glasses, a bottle of lens solution if you're using weekly or monthly lenses, and lubricating eye drops to help with dryness during flights or air-conditioned environments. A pair of tweezers for hygienic handling and a microfibre cloth for your glasses are also useful additions.

Travel Pick: We recommend daily contact lenses such as Qieto1day or Qieto1day Rich (Silicone Hydrogel) for holidays. Since they are daily disposables, you won’t need solutions or cases, making packing effortless.

3. Keep Your Prescription Readily Available

Losing or tearing a contact lens can happen at the most inconvenient moment. To avoid unnecessary stress, save a photo of your prescription on your phone and keep a printed copy in your passport wallet or luggage. This makes it much easier to replace your lenses while overseas, should you need to visit a local optometrist.

4. Wear Goggles While Swimming

Swimming while wearing contact lenses can increase your risk of irritation and eye infections due to bacteria in water—whether it’s a pool, lake, or ocean. It’s best to wear proper swimming goggles with a good seal to keep water out. If you do swim with your lenses in, remove them immediately afterward and let your eyes rest to reduce the risk of infection.

5. Refresh Your Eyes After Swimming

Saltwater and chlorine can quickly irritate your eyes. After swimming, rinse your eyes with sterile saline or apply lubricating drops to flush out any remaining irritants. Remove your contacts if you were wearing them and allow your eyes to relax by switching to glasses for a few hours. This helps reduce the risk of dryness or discomfort.

6. Choose Sunglasses With Strong UV Protection

Both New Zealand and many popular overseas destinations experience strong UV levels, so wearing high-quality sunglasses is essential. Look for sunglasses that block 99–100% of UVA and UVB rays, and consider polarised lenses if you’re sensitive to glare—especially around snow or water. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat is also a great way to add extra protection when you’re not using sunglasses.

7. Manage Air-Conditioning and Extreme Weather

Whether you’re travelling to hot, humid places or chilly alpine destinations, air-conditioning and harsh climates can both leave your eyes feeling dry. Long-haul flights, hotel rooms, and rental cars often have strong A/C, which can be tough on contact lens wearers. Keep lubricating drops close by, and give your eyes regular breaks by alternating between contacts and glasses. If you're heading into the snow or windy environments, wearing ski goggles or wraparound eyewear can provide an extra layer of protection.

8. Protect Your Eyes From Sand and Wind

Beach holidays are a favourite for many Kiwis, but sand and wind can be a challenge for contact lens wearers. Keep a small bottle of contact solution or sterile saline in your beach bag so you can rinse your eyes quickly if sand gets in. Wearing sunglasses, especially wraparound styles, helps shield your eyes from sudden gusts and airborne debris.

9. Clean Your Contacts Thoroughly Each Day

When you’re travelling, your eyes are exposed to more dust, wind, and different environmental conditions than usual. If you're wearing weekly or monthly contact lenses, it’s important to clean and disinfect them every night with fresh solution. Never rinse your lenses with tap water, and avoid using old or expired solution. Proper cleaning keeps them comfortable and reduces the risk of irritation.

Final Travel Advice for Contact Lens Wearers

The best way to avoid eye issues on holiday is to stick to simple habits: wash your hands before touching your lenses, use only sterile lens solution, give your eyes regular breaks, and always carry extra lenses with you. Before you take off, make sure you’re fully stocked—Quicklens NZ offers fast delivery, great prices, and a wide range of daily, weekly, and monthly lenses so you can travel with confidence.

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We wish you a wonderful Christmas and a joyful holiday season.