5 Travel Eye Care Essentials: Packing List for Taking the Best Care of Your Eyes When Traveling

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Last Updated on: 22nd May 2023, 10:54 pm

Being able to travel and see the world is an incredible thing but it can sometimes come with its challenges.

If we experience threats to our health in any way, this can totally ruin our time away. Your eyes in particular are an area that you need to take extra special care of, as you don’t want to experience impaired vision due to any problems occurring around the delicate eye area.

That is why I’ve put together this handy guide of things that you need to take away with you when traveling, to ensure that your eyes are kept clean, comfortable, and functioning the way they should.

Read on here – and for more tips on how to look after your eyes when you’re away, go check out All About Vision.

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5 Travel Eye Care Essentials Packing List for Taking the Best Care of Your Eyes When Traveling

My Favorite Travel Booking Sites for 2023

These are my favorite companies that I use on my own travels.

Protect Your Trip via Safety Wing

Find the best city tours, day tours, bus tours, & skip-the-line tickets on GetYourGuide and Viator.

Find the best deals on hotels & vacation rentals on Booking.com.

For English-speaking private airport transfers, book through Welcome Pickups.

For road trips and independent travel, rent a car through Discover Cars.

Find information and cruise reviews on Cruise Critic.

For packing and travel essentials order via Amazon.

Book an affordable family or romantic photography session on your trip through Flytographer (Use the code HISTORYFANGIRL for 10% off your first photoshoot).

For travel guidebooks to have with you during your trip, I always pick one or two from Rick Steves and Lonely Planet.

Travel Eye Care: What to Pack to Take Care of Your Eyes on the Road

As a glasses and contact lens wearer, I’ve had to think about this carefully on every trip. Don’t leave home without these five travel eye care essentials!

See also
Rick Steves Interview on Why We Travel

Sunglasses

Iceland - Vik - Stephanie Craig on Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
Bring sunglasses for every trip – even ones in the fall and winter!

Sunglasses are one of the most obvious items on the list and something you should already be equipped with.

However, you need to check that the sunglasses you take along with you offer you the right protection from the sun.

Look for a minimum of UV400 protection, to block the UV rays that can cause damage to your eyes.

Even when it’s cloudy outside, if you’re spending a lot of time outdoors, you should have UV protection sunglasses on, as UV rays can creep through clouds when it’s overcast.

Choose sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection, specifically blocking both UVA and UVB rays. These UV protection sunglasses are essential for safeguarding your eyes from harmful sun exposure, even on cloudy days.

Consider also the lens category or darkness level based on your travel destinations and activities.

A Hat that Covers Your Face

Mississippi - Jackson - Welcome to Jackson Mural - Stephanie and Valentine
My husband’s hat and sunglasses combo keeps his face completely out of the sun for long stretches of the day.

Wearing a hat when you’re in the sunshine can be good for your skin as well as your eyes, protecting you from the sun.

Look for a wide-brimmed hat or a cap, that shades your face. This will likely reduce the amount of squinting and discomfort you experience too, so it is always useful to have on hand.

SPF Eye Cream

Belize - Ambergris Caye - Bug Spray and Sunscreen
Regular Sunscreen is too harsh on your eyes so bring a separate eye cream!

If you expect to experience harsher weather conditions than you’re used to on your trip, then there’s a good chance that the delicate skin around your eyes will suffer due to it. T

hat’s why you should bring along with you a hydrating eye cream – bonus points if you get one with SPF in to look after the skin around your eyes.

Eye Drops

Germany - Dresden - Stephanie
You never know when irritants will get in your eyes. Don’t let it ruin your trip!

Lack of sleep, pollution, sand, saltwater, chlorine… the list of potential irritants to your eyes when you’re traveling is endless.

That’s why you should always take eye drops along with you, to give your eyes some much-welcomed relief when they’re feeling a little gritty or dry.

See also
Traveling Alone? Keep Yourself Safe With These Updated Tips

This is something that’s especially important if you’re a contact lens wearer, as if you’re wearing your contacts for excessive periods, day to night, they’re likely to feel worn out and dehydrated.

Swimming Goggles

Mississippi - Jackson - Homewood Suites by Hilton - Stephanie and Jordan in the Pool
We left our goggles at home on this trip. Bummer!

If you’re planning on doing a lot of swimming in the sea or in pools on your trips, then get yourself a pair of goggles to protect your eyes.

You’ll be thankful you did! Consider bringing a snorkel along with you too, to get a better look at the sea creatures you’re sharing the water with.

All in all, your eyes shouldn’t be a problem for you if you look after them properly when you’re away. Have fun and stay safe!

Before Your Trip – Don’t Forget About Travel Insurance!

Whenever I go on a trip, I always make sure to get travel insurance!

This is especially true for trips where I’m visiting big cities or spending time in the great outdoors!

The company Safety Wing is the travel insurance company I always look to first, and I happily recommend them!

I always make sure to get travel insurance whenever I’m going to be over one hundred miles from home, in large cities where tourists can be the target of pickpockets, and anytime I’ll be doing outdoor activities.

It makes my life easier knowing if something should happen, I’ll be able to take care of it!

Get a travel insurance quote for your trip here.

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