Typhoon season go-bag: what glasses wearers should pack before the storm

Filipino households learn to pack a go-bag: water, a flashlight, documents, medicine, a charged power bank. Glasses rarely make the list. They should. If you cannot see clearly, you cannot read an evacuation notice, walk through a dark corridor or drive away from rising water. Losing or breaking your only pair in the middle of an emergency is a larger problem than it looks.

This is a short packing guide for anyone who wears glasses, and for the people who care for them.

Why glasses go missing in a storm

Evacuations are rushed. Glasses are left on a bedside table, knocked off in a crowd, dropped in floodwater or crushed in a bag. Power cuts mean you cannot see well enough to search for them. People who only wear glasses at night or on the road also forget them more easily, since the habit is not automatic.

The eyewear go-bag list

• A spare pair of glasses with your current prescription, in a hard case
• A copy of your prescription, on paper and as a photo on your phone
• A microfibre cloth in a sealed bag, so it stays clean and dry
• A small bottle of lens cleaner or clean water for rinsing grit off lenses
• A hard case, because a soft pouch does not survive a crushed bag
• Your contact lens supplies, if you wear contacts, including a case, fresh solution and a backup pair of glasses
• A strap or cord, if you tend to put glasses down and forget them

The case for a spare pair

A spare pair is the most useful item on the list. It does not need to be fashionable. It needs to match your current prescription and be comfortable enough to wear for days. If you use progressive lenses and cannot afford a second progressive, ask the team what suits a backup.

For a simple spare pair, the Vision Express menu has Basic 1.50, a single vision lens that is in stock and ready in 20 minutes. If you want screen comfort in the same pair, Opulens Advanced 1.60 is also in stock and ready in 20 minutes. Both are single vision lenses, and the optometrist will confirm whether single vision suits you.

What not to do with wet glasses

• Do not wipe a dry, gritty lens, since grit scratches the surface. Rinse it first with clean water.
• Do not leave glasses in a hot car or a sealed bag in the sun, which can damage coatings and frames.
• Do not use floodwater to clean lenses. Floodwater carries bacteria that you do not want near your eyes.
• Do not touch your eyes with unwashed hands after handling wet glasses.

If you wear contact lenses

Contact lenses and floodwater do not mix. If you are wading through floodwater or sheltering in a crowded space with poor hygiene, switch to glasses where you can. If water splashes into your eyes while wearing contacts, remove the lenses and rinse with clean water. If redness, pain or blurred vision follows, get an eye check promptly. This is general guidance, not a diagnosis. Your optometrist can advise on your own situation.

After the storm

Check your glasses for bent arms, loose screws and cracked lenses. A bent frame changes how the lens sits in front of your eye and can cause headaches. Free lifetime custom fitting and adjustment covers re-aligning your frame, so bring them in after a rough week. Free lifetime ultrasonic cleaning removes salt, silt and grime that wiping at home cannot reach.

Store operating hours can change during storms. Check with your nearest store before you travel, and do not go out in unsafe conditions for glasses.

Do it before the next signal goes up

The time to order a spare pair is when the sky is clear. Check your prescription date. If your last eye test was over a year ago, the spare you order now should match a current prescription, since a spare that is out of date is a poor spare.

Your next step

Book a Vision7 eye test at your nearest Vision Express store. The seven-step exam gives you a current prescription for your go-bag copy and your spare pair. Then ask for Basic 1.50 for a simple spare pair ready in 20 minutes, or Opulens Advanced 1.60 if you also want a screen comfort lens that is ready in 20 minutes. Every pair carries a 1-year warranty, free lifetime ultrasonic cleaning and free lifetime custom fitting and adjustment.