Your passport is ready, bags packed and you’re excited to get going on a new adventure. All systems go! Or is it? Quick reminder; have you planned for how you’re going to see the world if you’re travelling with glasses? Silly question maybe, but if you lose or break your specs, you won’t be seeing much of anything at all – with clarity, anyway – so it’s essential to prepare for any scenario. Because how many times have you misplaced, stepped on, dropped overboard or left behind your glasses while away? If you’re like us, it’s a lot. And hopefully after reading this, never again. Here are 6 IDEAL tips for travelling with glasses.
KNOW YOUR EYE PRESCRIPTION
You could be the most prepared traveller around, with military precision assigned to passport safety, booking times, airport transfers and the rest, but even with plenty of smart planning, there’s still the possibility of losing or breaking your glasses in a foreign country with limited access to an optometrist. At this point, you need to know the finer details of your eye prescription, so it’s a good idea to have a physical copy with you, as well as one online or in the cloud so you can refer to it from anywhere. It never hurt to be cautious on occasions like this.
HAVE A BACK-UP PAIR OF GLASSES ONLINE
Though you’ve followed our previous advice and made your prescription easily accessible, it can still be difficult and time-consuming to find a new pair of glasses abroad — especially if your day is jam-packed, you’re travelling around, or just have better things to do. And let’s face it, almost any itinerary item counts as ‘better’ than searching for new specs.
So, your next step is to know exactly where to order cheap prescription glasses from, in case of emergency. Using an online optician, you can choose your frame, select the type of lense you require, add your prescription details, then pay online and they can be dispatched between three and five working days to anywhere in the world. Super convenient; just squint for a couple of days and you’re good to go.
TAKE AN EXTRA PAIR
Accidents happen, even more so when you’re living outside of your usual routine and in unfamiliar surroundings. You’ll start out being super careful with your glasses – overly so, even – but before you know it, you’ve put them down somewhere without realising or left them in the hotel for the maid to sweep away with last night’s debris. Not to worry, if you have a spare pair, that is. Consider making ultra light folding glasses your back up, as they are ideal for travelling and most fold into pocket size compact carry cases manageably.
INVEST IN A HARD CASE
Losing your glasses isn’t the only likely reason you’ll need a spare pair. When running through the airport (missed flight anyone?) or in another instance of needing to be speedy, we tend to stuff glasses into our bag without thinking, along with everything else. As a result, it’s not uncommon to end up with a broken frame or scratched lens. Mitigate this risk by investing in a stylish hard case which you cherish, to encourage you to use it every time your glasses aren’t on your face. That way, you can continue to throw the case in your bag when you’re in a rush and your glasses are well-protected.
PACK AN EYEGLASS REPAIR KIT
Wear and tear on your glasses will happen no matter where you are, but if it’s something simple, you may be able to fix it yourself on the road. This is where a simple repair kit comes in. These include an assortment of tiny screws, different size screwdrivers and a lens cleaning cloth (which you can use on your camera too) so if the frame is feeling loose or a screw has popped out, you can handle it quickly and with minimal fuss.
CONSIDER PRESCRIPTION SUNGLASSES
While you’re enjoying your holiday, you don’t need to compromise on fashion when the sun comes out — yes, we’re looking at you, the one who wears their sunglasses on top of glasses. It’s not a good look guys. Instead, pick a sunglasses style of your choice, which can be fitted with a custom-made lens to include both your prescription and a custom-made lens with 100% UV protection. The perfect solution to look stylish and to keep your eyes safe.