Summer Holidays and Contact Lenses: Tips for Safe Use
Summer is the season for holidays, relaxation and adventure: sunshine, the sea, nature trips and long hours of fun. For contact lens wearers, however, a little extra care is needed to protect eye comfort and health. Follow these tips to enjoy your summer holiday with clear, comfortable vision.
Hydration and care
Heat and sun exposure may cause dry eyes. Drink plenty of water during the day to keep your body and eyes hydrated. Carry moisturising eye drops compatible with your lenses for extra hydration and freshness.
Protection from ultraviolet radiation
Prolonged sun exposure may harm the eyes. Contact lenses with sodium hyaluronate provide additional hydration. You may also choose contact lenses with a built-in UV filter as part of your protection from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
Avoid contact with water
Contact lenses should not come into contact with sea or pool water because this increases the risk of infection. If lens wear cannot be avoided, use watertight swimming goggles with daily contact lenses, then remove and discard them immediately after swimming.
Good hygiene
It is easy to neglect hygiene on holiday. Always wash your hands before inserting or removing contact lenses. Use fresh solution and clean the lens case regularly.
Use high-quality lens solution
Choose a contact lens solution designed to keep lenses clean and support healthy, comfortable eyes.
Do not forget sunglasses
Even if you wear contact lenses with UV protection, sunglasses are essential. They provide additional protection and reduce eye strain.
Pack adequate supplies
Carry spare pairs and lens solution so you are prepared if a lens is lost or damaged. Take a travel-size contact lens solution suitable for air travel. If you wear daily lenses, pack enough pairs for the whole holiday.
Visit your eye-care professional
Before travelling, arrange a check-up. Make sure your prescription is current and that you have everything you need for lens care.
Summer holidays are a time to relax. By following these tips, you can help keep your eyes healthy and comfortable and enjoy summer with clear, unobstructed vision.
Have a wonderful, carefree holiday.
Stay tuned for more news and advice on eye care and contact lens use.
A practical packing list
Carry enough sealed lenses and solution, a clean case, spare spectacles and prescription details. Never decant solution into a small container. Cars, luggage and hot weather can expose products to unsuitable temperatures, so follow all storage instructions.
The role of a professional examination
A prescription is only one part of a complete assessment. The practitioner considers eye health, tear-film quality and everyday visual needs. Contact lens fitting also involves base curve, diameter, movement and centration. Changing brand, material or parameters requires a new assessment rather than a simple comparison of powers.
A consistent hygiene routine
Wash and dry hands thoroughly before touching a lens or the eye. Keep nails clean, handle the lens with fingertips and prevent product nozzles from touching surfaces. Follow the replacement schedule and never reuse a daily lens after removal. Small, repeatable habits are more reliable than occasional intensive cleaning.
Water and contact lenses
Tap, sea, pool and shower water are not safe for contact lenses. Water can carry microorganisms and alter the lens material. Remove lenses before swimming, showering or using a hot tub, and never rinse a lens or its case with water even when it looks clean.
Caring for reusable lenses
Use only a solution recommended for the lens material. Rub and rinse when instructed, fill the case with fresh liquid and respect the full disinfection time. Never top up old solution. Clean, air-dry and replace the case according to professional guidance, and keep the bottle tightly closed between uses.
Frequently Asked Questions: Lenses on Holiday
Pack enough pairs, suitable solution in a sealed container, a clean case, spare glasses and a copy of your prescription.
Take breaks, blink frequently and use only compatible moisturising drops recommended by a professional.
Water contact increases infection risk. Prefer to remove the lenses, or follow specialist advice and use watertight swimming goggles.
Follow the temperatures on the packaging and keep products away from direct sun, the beach and closed vehicles.
Do not use a damaged lens. Replace it with a spare and wear glasses if no suitable replacement pair is available.
