Summer and contact lenses seem made for each other.
No frames sliding down your nose in the heat. No glasses fogging up when you move between air conditioning and the outdoors. An unobstructed field of vision for sports, travel, concerts, amusement parks, and long days outside.
But summer also introduces a few situations where contact lens wearers need to be especially careful. Water, heat, air conditioning, travel, and longer wearing days can all affect contact lens comfort and eye health. Here is how to enjoy the freedom of contacts without allowing poor habits to spoil your summer.
First: Never Swim in Your Contact Lenses
Whether you are heading to a swimming pool, lake, beach, hot tub, or water park, contacts and water are not a safe combination.Water ca n contain microorganisms capable of becoming trapped between the contact lens and the surface of the eye, increasing the risk of a serious corneal infection. That includes tap water.
For the same reason, you should remove contact lenses before showering whenever possible and never rinse or store reusable lenses in water. If you need vision correction while swimming, ask about prescription swim goggles.
Daily Contacts Can Be Convenient for Travel
Vacations often mean a disrupted routine. You might be waking up in a hotel, spending the day sightseeing, staying out later than usual, or trying to clean reusable lenses in an unfamiliar bathroom.
For appropriate patients, daily disposable contact lenses can simplify things considerably.
You begin each day with a fresh pair and throw them away when you are finished. There is no lens case or cleaning solution to transport, and you do not need to worry about maintaining a reusable pair while travelling. Daily disposables are not necessarily the best choice for everyone, but they can be worth discussing if convenience is a priority.
Pack More Lenses Than You Think You Need
Do not pack exactly seven pairs for a seven-day trip. Contact lenses can tear, fall onto the floor, become contaminated, or simply need to be removed unexpectedly. Pack several spare pairs as well as your current glasses.
Your backup glasses are particularly important because there may be days when your eyes are irritated, dry, or simply need a break from lenses. If you wear reusable contacts, remember your approved cleaning solution and case as well. Do not assume you will easily find your preferred products at your destination.
Air Conditioning Can Make Contacts Feel Dry
Texas summers mean moving constantly between hot outdoor air and heavily air-conditioned indoor spaces. Air conditioning reduces humidity and can increase tear evaporation, causing lenses to feel less comfortable.
You may notice:
- Dryness
- Burning
- Grittiness
- Intermittent blur
- A feeling that you need to blink more frequently
Staying hydrated, taking contact lens breaks, and using eye drops specifically approved for use with your lenses may help. If dryness happens frequently, however, it may be time to reconsider your lens material or evaluate whether dry eye is contributing.
Sunglasses Still Matter When You Wear Contacts
Contact lenses do not replace sunglasses. Even if your particular contact lenses include UV filtering, they do not cover the entire eye or the delicate skin surrounding it. Wear quality sunglasses that provide appropriate UVA and UVB protection. They also offer another summer benefit: shielding your contacts from wind, dust, and airborne debris.
Don’t Turn One Long Summer Day Into Overnight Wear
Summer schedules have a way of stretching. Dinner becomes an evening out. A road trip runs late. You arrive home exhausted and falling asleep without removing your contacts suddenly seems tempting.
Unless you are wearing lenses specifically prescribed for overnight use, sleeping in contacts can significantly increase the risk of complications. Follow the wearing and replacement schedule prescribed for your particular lenses.
And remember: “They still feel fine” is not a reason to extend a two-week or monthly lens beyond its intended replacement period.
Contacts Can Be Great for Active Summer Days
One of the biggest advantages of contact lenses is the freedom they offer during physical activity. They provide a wide field of vision without frames moving, slipping, or interfering with helmets and other equipment.
Contacts can work especially well for:
- Running
- Cycling
- Hiking
- Outdoor fitness
- Team sports
- Theme parks
- Festivals and concerts
For activities with a risk of eye injury, contact lenses do not replace appropriate protective eyewear.
First-Time Wearer? Summer Is a Great Time to Learn
If you have always worn glasses but want more flexibility for vacations, sports, or summer events, you may be surprised by the contact lens options available today.
Modern contacts can correct:
- Nearsightedness
- Farsightedness
- Astigmatism
- Presbyopia
At Kudo Care Center, a contact lens fitting evaluates more than the prescription. The team assesses fit, comfort, corneal shape, and how the lenses perform on your eyes. New wearers are also taught proper insertion, removal, and lens hygiene so they can feel confident handling contacts on their own.
If Your Contacts Aren’t Comfortable, Don’t Settle
Contact lenses should not leave you counting the hours until you can take them out. If your current lenses regularly become dry, blurry, irritated, or uncomfortable, the solution may be a different material, replacement schedule, design, or fit.
Changes in your eyes can also mean that lenses you have worn successfully for years no longer suit you as well as they once did. A contact lens evaluation can help determine what has changed.
Give Your Glasses a Summer Vacation—Not Your Contact Lens Hygiene
Contact lenses can give you tremendous flexibility during summer, but healthy wear depends on a few non-negotiable habits.
Keep them away from water. Replace them on schedule. Wash and dry your hands before handling them. Carry backup glasses. Remove your lenses if your eyes become painful, unusually red, or significantly irritated.
And if you are ready to try contacts—or your current pair could be more comfortable—schedule a contact lens exam with Kudo Care Center in Irving, TX.
Our team can help you find lenses that suit your prescription, eyes, and summer lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I swim in contact lenses if I wear goggles?
It is safest to remove contacts before swimming. Prescription swim goggles are a better option if you need vision correction in the water.
Can I use regular eye drops while wearing contacts?
Not all eye drops are designed for use with contact lenses. Use drops specifically labelled as compatible with contacts or ask your eye doctor which product is appropriate.
Are daily disposable contacts good for vacations?
They can be very convenient because each pair is worn once and discarded, eliminating the need for cleaning solution and a storage case.
Should I take my glasses on vacation if I mostly wear contacts?
Yes. Always bring a current pair of backup glasses in case you lose a lens, develop irritation, or need to temporarily stop wearing contacts.
Can I wear contact lenses for sports?
Contacts can be an excellent option for many sports because they provide a wide, unobstructed field of vision. Protective sports eyewear should still be worn when there is a risk of eye injury.