Pack enough lenses and care supplies for the whole trip, plus backup glasses and a clean case. Keep your normal wear and replacement schedule, wash and dry your hands before handling lenses, and keep lenses and cases away from water. Bring the solution intended for your lenses. For U.S. flights, check TSA's current solution entry because larger bottles require special screening and some products can be refused.
Travel with enough contact lenses and compatible care supplies to maintain the routine prescribed for you, plus backup glasses. A change in schedule or access to clean supplies is a reason to wear glasses, not to stretch a lens’s replacement interval.
Pack a complete lens kit
- Enough lenses for every planned wear day, with a few extra if your trip allows.
- Your glasses and a copy of your current prescription details.
- A clean case and the solution intended for your lenses, in sufficient quantity for the trip.
- Any eye-care products your clinician has recommended for you.
Keep the kit accessible while traveling so a delay or misplaced bag does not leave you without a way to care for your lenses. CDC’s travel guidance lists a case, contacts, glasses and solution as backup supplies. For U.S. flights, TSA lists contact lens solution as allowed in carry-on and checked bags. TSA says larger medically necessary liquids must be declared for inspection, notes some contact lens solutions can trigger screening and be refused, and recommends placing solution bottles over 3.4 ounces in checked baggage. Check TSA’s item page before departure for the current instructions.
Keep your usual hygiene routine
Wash and dry your hands before touching lenses. Follow the directions from your eye care provider and solution manufacturer. For compatible soft lenses, CDC says to rub and rinse lenses with fresh solution, never top off old solution, and clean the case with fresh solution rather than water. Keep lenses away from water and remove them before showering, swimming or using a hot tub. CDC advises against sleeping in lenses unless your eye care provider directs you to do so.
Keep the lens replacement schedule set by your eye care professional and the lens manufacturer. Do not extend wear because a trip is busy or a replacement pair is hard to reach.
Plan for the destination
Think through where you will wash your hands and store your lens supplies. In a setting without a clean place to handle lenses, wear glasses instead. Pack your case where it will stay clean and closed. If you are traveling somewhere with limited access to your usual solution or prescription, bring enough from home and ask your eye care professional about a safe backup plan before departure.
Before a long trip, check that your prescription is current and that you have the glasses and supplies recommended for your lenses. Our contact lens care guide covers cleaning and storage at home. Browse the contact lens category for more guidance.
Official references
Common questions
Should I pack glasses when traveling with contacts?
Yes. The CDC's travel guidance recommends bringing glasses as a backup, along with the contact lens supplies you need for the trip.
Can I rinse contact lenses with bottled water while traveling?
No. Keep water away from contact lenses and their case. Use the contact lens solution recommended for your lenses, following its label.
Can I sleep in contact lenses during a flight?
Follow your prescribed wear schedule and the lens maker's directions. CDC advises against sleeping in lenses unless your eye care provider directs you to do so.