I will soon leave for a 9-12month trip, and I'm wondering
what people do about their contact lenses while traveling. I
use 2-week disposables, and while I will take my glasses,
I'm not going to switch to wearing them instead. Has anyone
travelled through not very developed areas of Africa and the
Middle East with contacts? Is it possible to buy saline
solution there? Thanks for your advice.
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I've worn contacts while doing extended travelling without
use of plumbing. While I haven't been to any of the places
you've mentioned, I did spend 10 months in Moscow, which is
a pretty modern place. After extensive searching, I found
that one brand of saline solution was available, for 35 USD.
I will tell you that you can make it for 10 months or even
more with 3 bottles of solution (wearing them every day), if
you're scrupulous.
Washing your hand with limited water:
1)Rub a tiny amount of lotion into your hands.
Even better, rubbing alcohol or alcohol-based astringent.
2)Pay particular attention to fingertips. Use a blade of
grass, the corner of your shirt, whatever, to get some of
the dirt from under your nails.
3) "Rinse" with a cupped palmful of water or a bit of
solution. Rub hands together vigorously. Airdry or wipe on
something if you're in a hurry.
Don't forget your little tiny pocket mirror.
Thanks for the advice Elizabeth!
I travelled for 4 months in SE-asia with my 1-month lenses,
and even went jungletrekking + more without ever having the
problem, that I could get my hands clean. How ever I would
advice you to bring your own saline solution wherever you
go. Or maybe you can get someone to send you a bottle or
two while you┤re away. I bought some in Prague once, but
when I got back to Denmark, I was told that this brand was
actually forbidden at home, since it contained various
dangerous chemicals. So I wouldn┤t rely on Africa.
In 2 weeks I┤ll be off to India, and this time I┤m using 1-
day lenses. Have you thought about that? I┤m sure they
weigh less than saline solution for 9 months? Good luck!
I mean of course - that I never had the problem that I
could NOT get my hands clean. But bringing wet tissues
would help...
here is another little trick...if you run out of solution,
wash your hands best you can, then touch the inside part of
your contact to your tounge. It takes away that stinging,
dry feeling you can get when you just use water. It makes
sence actually, as the s solution is just a salt water
dilution.
I feel a lot more confident about being able to use them on
the road now. Mys, maybe I will look into 1-day lenses. I
expect saline will be the biggest hassle of contact usage,
so if I don't have to take it (or much of it), that would be
great. How much more do the 1-day contacts cost and how
bulky is all that packaging?
I always buy conacts over the phone from 1-800-CONTACTS.
I don't know whether you're in N.American, if so they have
about the best prices you could hope to find. I pay 70 USD
for a year's supply (4 lenses per eye).
I'm pretty sure 1-days are *significantly* more expensive.
The estimate I came to (from somewhere) on the basis of
wearing contacts everyday is about 360 dollars a year. Not
to mention the astounding amount of package waste they
create.
Good luck.