this is One thingA column full of tips on how to live your life.
A few years ago, my dad, a lifelong glasses and contact lens wearer, had cataract surgery. After the operation, his vision was 20/20. So, since he lived within driving distance instead of flying, he gave me, his son, everything he needed for contact lenses: several bottles of cleaning solution and a bunch of unused contact lens cases.
So I have a lot of contact lens cases. I haven’t counted them, but I should have. Every time I buy contact lens solution, it comes with a new case to store my night lenses in. (Apparently, I need solution about as often as I need to replace the case, but I’m not sure. I wash my hands before touching the case, and the case is kept on an enclosed shelf behind the mirror, so I don’t know how long I’ll use the same case for… for.) This accumulation of cases, combined with constant visits from my dad, has suddenly Many Regarding contact cases.
In fact, I found an amazing use for it that has revolutionized my travel life and can change yours too: Use it as a travel container to hold small amounts of liquids.
I mainly use it as a face wash and toner, neither of which are needed much for a week-long trip. I once tried to put hair mousse in it, but (obviously) it didn’t work. But guess what? I threw that contact case away!
I like to do this because the special little tubes made for traveling are such a pain; they’re too big and I always end up leaving them in the shower. I feel so stupid buying a $5 thing just to hold a little bit of lotion, and even stupider to keep buying them. (If you don’t wear contact lenses yourself, you can buy bulk contact lens cases for really cheap, or just ask someone you know who wears contact lenses; they might be happy to give you their spare ones.)
Have I taken this to an extreme? Yes, I have. These days, I even bring an extra contact case with me when I go on trips that are only a night or two long.The contact solution itselfNo need to carry it around in a bottle, which one.
