For contact lens wearers, keeping an active lifestyle can be challenging, but far from impossible. Today, we share tips on making contact lenses work with an active lifestyle.
Prepare for On-the-Go Eye Hygiene
Good eye hygiene is an important part of wearing contact lenses, regardless of your chosen lifestyle. For on-the-go persons, we recommend always having a travel kit that contains eye hygiene essentials. Get a travel pouch, and fill it with solutions, cases, gels and spare contacts.
Look for a padded pouch with rigid sides and organizational compartments. If you have a big bottle of solution, get small containers, and decant some of the solution for your travel kit. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allows 3.4-ounce (100 ml) or smaller containers that fit in a quart-sized resealable bag for carry-ons. Alternatively, you can buy travel kits, but they’re typically designed for general use and not specifically for contact lens wearers.
Switch to Daily Contact Lenses
If using weekly, two-weekly, or monthly contacts are becoming a hassle, consider switching to daily disposable contact lenses. They’re low-maintenance and usually come in packs of 30 pairs, which are good for a month. Since daily contacts are typically thinner than the other aforementioned types of contacts, you have to make sure that you’re carrying them in a rigid container to avoid getting crushed as you travel. Ask your eye doctor about brands and other options the next time you visit for an eye exam.
Wear Contact Lenses With UV Protection
If you spend much of your time outdoors, you need to protect your eyes against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Overexposure to UV can lead to eye problems, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, among others. While there are sunglasses that provide adequate protection, they’re not ideal for situations that involve rigorous movement as is the case with active sports. UV-absorbing contact lenses can help protect your eyes, and they won’t get in the way of protective eyewear.
Guilford Eye Center provides eyeglasses, contact lenses and eye care services to clients in Greensboro, NC, and the surrounding communities. Give us a call at (336) 292-4516, or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.
