Packing and organising for a vacation or travelling can be a tricky business at the best of times, but for those of us that wear glasses – particularly prescription lenses – there’s a whole host of other things we need to consider.

So to make your life a little easier on your next trip, here are 5 top tips I’ve learned from travelling with glasses.

1. Know your prescription

If you lose or break your glasses while you’re travelling, you’ll need to get them replaced – this can be quite tricky if you don’t know your prescription. Bring a physical copy of it if you can, and have a digital copy saved to your phone or computer as a backup. This way you’ll be able to get a suitable replacement wherever you are (although admittedly it will be easier in some countries than others).

2. Take an extra pair for emergencies

If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of getting a replacement pair while you’re travelling, it may be easier to take an extra pair with just in case. When I travel I take my favourite Oakley prescription glasses with me to wear every day, but I also bring a cheaper pair of frames with the same prescription, so that I know if I lose or break my Oakley’s I have a suitable back-up until I get home.

3. Bring a hard case

This might sound like an obvious tip, but a lot of people will use a soft case, or not use any kind of case at all when they travel. Always store your frames in a hard, protective case, minimising the risk of them being accidentally damaged during your travels. You’re also less likely to lose them compared to wearing them on your head or hanging them from your top pocket or t-shirt.

4. Put your extra pair in your checked luggage

With your spare pair stowed away in your luggage, you can bring your main pair with you on the plane (assuming you’re flying). This way if your baggage is lost, which is an unfortunately all-too-possible scenario, you at least have a pair with you.

5. Bring a lens cloth!

I would strongly recommend taking a microfibre lens cloth with you whenever you go away, so you can keep them clean and in good condition. You might also want to consider taking some form of repair kit, so you can tighten them, put back lenses or replace lost screws – it’s much cheaper than forking out for a new pair!