Always make sure to be prepared before you hit the road for the holidays.
Follow these tips to ensure you have the best travel experience during the holidays!
DO: Double Your Pairs and Pack Your Backup Glasses
If you wear glasses, bring two pairs on every trip!
Recently, a patient of Dr. Ericksen had their trip ruined due to lost prescription glasses at the hotel or while traveling in general. Luckily, we were able to get some trial contacts to them, which leads us to…..
Take Extra Contacts with you!
Are you running low on your dailies or at the end of your monthly contacts? Contact us as soon as possible to get new contacts.
Don’t: Wait to See an Eye Doctor While Traveling
Although it may be tempting, don’t wait until you get home to see your eye doctor. Immediate treatment of small problems keeps them small. Urgent Cares, ER’s and even general practice doctors are not set up to treat eye emergencies such as trauma (impact), foreign body (something in your eye), or infections. Plus you will end up paying a lot more versus visiting an optometrist in the area of your travels.
Unsure where to turn? Beyond Vision LNK offers video and texting services to all of our patients as part of our concierge services! Not a member? Give us a call today to learn more!
Do: Prepare for Dry Eyes on Airplanes
Leaving on a jet plane? Everyone’s eyes dry out on airplanes. Take out your contacts if you are going to sleep for several hours, or bring over-the-counter drops to lubricate your eyes.
Beyond Vision LNK carries a full range of dry eye products including masks, drops, and cleaners. Make sure you have what you need when traveling!
Don’t: Use Water to Clean Your Contacts
Always travel with your contact lens case in your carry-on, and two bottles of contact lens solution. If one bottle opens and spills, you’ll have a backup. If your eyes feel uncomfortable, take out your contacts and put them in sterile contact lens solution in their case — not in a cup (yes, flight attendants have unknowingly thrown out cups with the contacts in them while the passenger slept). Never store your contacts in water — water isn’t sterile, and in some countries it may even have bacteria that can cause serious eye infections.
Do: Stock up on Prescription Eye Drops
If you take prescription eye drops, be sure to bring extra unopened bottles with you. “Do not assume that a prescription from the United States can be filled in Britain (as one of my patients discovered) or that the same drops are even available in France (as another patient discovered). If you need eye drops for allergies, glaucoma or dry eye, be sure to bring them with you – and pack extras!”
Don’t: Ignore Changes in Your Vision, Even on Vacation
Just because it isn’t painful doesn’t mean it isn’t serious. “One patient called me because he was having new floaters, flashes, and blurred vision. He wasn’t very concerned because he wasn’t having any pain so he wanted to stay for his dinner party with family and friends, however, the symptoms are signs of a retinal detachment and he needed to be seen immediately”. Following a quick video call with Dr. Ericksen, the patient was referred to a specialist that was able to help them right away.
Don’t: Ignore Changes in Your Vision (Yes, it’s Worth Repeating!)
Vision changes can be a sign of other health problems. When we travel, we change our eating and drinking habits. Blurred vision can indicate a hypertensive crisis, a stroke or out-of-control diabetes.
Do Take Your Sunglasses Or Ski Goggles!
We highly recommend wearing polarized sunglasses during winter months. Polarization adds a filter to your lens to prevent horizontal light waves from reaching your eyes. The best lens tint colors for winter are neutral to help highlight natural colors.
Do: Enjoy Your Travels!
