Eyewear Takes Up a Lot of Space!

You could try a different case. The ones I get from the optometrist are often much larger than needed.

I take 3 pairs of glasses (reading, sun, and regular). I am always wearing one pair or they are sitting on a table in the hotel. I take one case in my purse. My reading glasses and sun/regular glasses can fit in the same case if I nestle the reading glasses between the two arms of the other pair

I also have a pair of glasses for every occasion (reading, driving, computer, TV watching). For readers, I have many pairs of these slim case ones that are very compact https://a.co/d/03v6il52 I also use a soft sided carrying case for my glasses similar to this one https://a.co/d/04qeiJ3X and I keep my glasses in my day bag in an inside pocket that doesn't get squished too much.

For future travels when you have time to order prescription glasses that suit you - I have "solved" this problem by having a pair of glasses made that are mostly for distance with a very thin narrow reader strip at the bottom of the lens. I use clip on shades for sun protection. I also take one of the slim case readers because they're small. I tried transition lenses but they made me dizzy.

Are you sure you're too late to get a pair of glasses made? I thought we had invented next-day eyeglasses back in the 80s. No? The lightest and most compact cases I have had are triangular ones from Costco. If you're a member, you might go in there and ask. Or go to your eye doctor and ask if they have anything. Unless you're wearing very delicate wire-rim glasses, consider whether you can get away with a soft case or even a little drawstring pouch. I used to have Rx sunglasses that I would switch out for my all-the-time glasses. I kept them in a case most of the time, but if I was out and about with just a small bag, I would keep them in a pocket inside the bag or in my jacket for ease of switching. I know it would be terribly inconvenient to break your glasses on a trip overseas, but most glasses are pretty sturdy things that can survive a little rough treatment.

I too have multiple pairs, and these cases have worked great for me. https://www.amazon.com/NPOOYI-Sunglasses-Portable-Neoprene-Glasses/dp/B0F9YFP5Z3?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1

Double eyeglass case.

I have one like this. Double Case
This one says that it is hard sided aluminum. It feels more like cardboard, but has held up fine. Closure is magnetic.

Distance in one side. Computer/Readers in the other. The divider in the middle is slanted, so saves space.

My last pair of distance had dark lenses that attached with little magnets. I'd wrap it in a lens cleaning cloth and kept it in the same side as the distance glasses instead of the thin case that came with it.
My current distance pair is the transition type and I had them add a bifocal.
I can't stand progressives. They make me dizzy.

Make sure to take a spare pair and a copy of your Rx.

Hi OP - Sorry to hear about your eye struggles. I'm approaching 50 and on glasses/contacts since I was 18 for nearside.
On top of having to carry travel contact solution, I always bring my glasses for eye rest and emergency if contacts don't go in. And need sunglasses. I usually keep sunglasses in a soft pouch, and my glasses in a small/slim case I got years ago. I can't find anything that light and sturdy anymore (it came with a pair of glasses I bought 20 years ago).

I find the cases they give you at the glasses store are too bulky and heavy. The triangle one from Costco is light like a cardboard but I find it bulky and not practical. Good luck!

I have same case as Travelbug and love it. I use it for my prescription sunglasses. It is light enough I can carry it in my small cross body purse.

I first bought one in black and found it hard to locate as it blends in with everything. Bought a print which is much more snazzy and solved the problem.

I've always used a zippered neoprene glasses case for travel, with a clip to attach it to my bag so that I can't leave them somewhere.

Thanks everyone for those links for cases, which have got me creatively thinking beyond my plain, black neoprene one!

It's too late for this for you, Mitzi, but perhaps for a future trip, I bring my "transition lens" (the kind that transition from light/clear (inside) to dark (outside.) They've improved over the years such that I can get by with them on some travel days, leaving my actual sunglasses in the room.

Regular eyeglasses--don't need a case as I am wearing them.

Back up glasses in a soft case

Reading glasses--Skinny Readers.

Sunglasses--clip on. They aren't chic but they take up little space.

Too late now, but for the future, you might ask about progressive lenses, that correct for distance, mid range, and close up vision. I've worn them for years. Mine come with clip on shades that fit into a soft sided case that live in an easy access pocket of my purse.

So sorry about the sudden sight issues. I am classified as extremely nearsighted, and have a complex progressive prescription. Lenses typically take 1-3 weeks regardless of vendor. (You would be shocked by my nearsightedness number lol, but I'm just happy to have my sight.)

I always travel with a back-up pair of regular glasses, along with a pair of polarized prescription sunglasses. (I need the sunglasses because my eyes are more prone to cataracts due to my nearsightedness.) I view the extra glasses as necessary packing priorities similar to any prescription medication needed.

I agree with others' recommendations to get cases from places such as Amazon, that are usually much smaller than the ones from the optometrist. I prefer the individual small, hard-shelled cases with a carabiner clip for portability and to avoid breakage when packed.

I recently bought this colorful case for about $10 at REI and love it: goodr best case scenario sunglasses case,
Good luck, and enjoy your trip!

I was very unhappy when my local optician (part of the For Eyes chain) switched to large, heavy, clamshell-style cases. I'm really dependent on my glasses, so I don't trust them in a packed suitcase in a soft, unstructured case. I was lucky I had kept a couple older cases that looked a bit tatty but were still structurally sound, and a friend gave me a few more. I guess I'm good for a little while longer.

I'm unclear whether you're traveling with back-up glasses (as I do) in addition to those you expect to use every day. If you have back-ups to worry about and just need to protect them inside your suitcase, take a look around your home to see whether you have some sort of plastic container that would hold the back-up glasses, then throw in some other odds and ends from your suitcase to utilize all the space.

I also need prescription reading, distance and sunglasses. I asked my optometrist for the smallest hard shell cases to protect expensive eyewear. Yes, it’s a pain but broken glasses are not an option.

I wear contacts and use readers for up-close, small-print reading or hand work. I am also a constant sunglasses wearer, so I am frequently swapping out readers and sunglasses. I have these from Amazon which are soft, hold my sunglasses and my readers, and I love them https://a.co/d/0iAUW5SJ
They work well for me because I am only trying to keep the lenses from being scratched, I am not focused on a hard case.

Hi Mitzi,
I feel your pain. I’ve just ordered transition glasses for the first time. Until now, I’ve had regular progressive glasses post cataract surgery. Really I just need them for reading, but I don’t like to take them off and on. I also have progressive sunglasses. I’ll still have to keep the progressive sunglasses in the car as I understand the transitions don’t work in the car.

Big bulky cases don’t fit in a small purse or bag. I’ve been known to go to the local second hand or charity shops. They have lots of soft sided eyeglass pouches…some in leather or cloth. i like the black and white plaid case from Amazon noted up thread.

I’m hoping that having transitions will allow me to use just 1 pair for sun protection and the ability to browse in shops. I have an Apple wallet attached to my iPhone, so that just slips into my pocket or a small bag. That would be perfect for travel.

I have a couple of spectacle cases that are folding - they are kind of triangular and when there is nothing inside them they can fold flat. I rarely need them when travelling because I wear my spectacles most of the time. The only time they are really handy is for the flight, when I take my glasses off in the night and don't want them knocking around in the seat pocket. It depends on how hard it is go get to my bag as to whether or not I use it - that's right, I often take one but never use it. Your call, only you know how much you need a spectacle case.

Lavandula

EDIT: I just checked one and the brand is Gucci - you can get them second-hand on eBay Australia for about A$30 - $50. There must be others but that is one solution.

I just got the case travelbug recommended and now have my sunglasses in it. Thanks.

Thank you for this great post. When you say "transition" do mean "progressive"? Transition I believe are the ones that "change" to sunglasses when you go outside. Progressives incorporate readers.

When I travel, I have my regular glasses (which are progressive), sunglasses (which are also progressives) and transition. I love wearing the transitions in situations where I may not want to carry sunglasses and having to switch back and forth between the glasses. Like maybe a hike or bus tour or something where I don't want to be carrying a lot. But, I don't love the transitions, the way they look when inside and they really don't have enough sun protection outside. I do pack the transitions as my "back up" glasses when I travel.

But, you are right, this is a lot of space for eyewear, and we pack carry on, too. I also like to pack an empty case to hold my glasses should I want to store them on the plane.

I have not seen the glasses' case that incorporates two pairs of glasses. I think my sunglasses may be too big, but its worth a try.

I don't desperately need glasses for distance. My eye doctor gave me a magnification number to look for in drugstore readers should I need a hack for distance if I lose glasses while traveling.

Another option for OP is to look into contacts. They've made a lot of progress into progressives in contacts. Also, for me, the optometrist experimented with making one contact stronger for reading so that one eye carries more of the load for distance and the other for reading. I did like the contacts a lot. I quit using them during COVID, but may go back to them.

I do like the neoprene glasses' case. It is space saving and I can clip to the outside of my purse. A downside is that I don't feel they offer enough protection and glasses could end up crushed if not mindful.

When I went to Amazon to look at the double case, I also found this one. It's probably takes up less space. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that the mini screw driver is attached. This case also could end up crushed like the neoprene, but I'm going to give it a try.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FP55W32S/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?pd_rd_i=B0FP55W32S&pd_rd_w=b94o8&content-id=amzn1.sym.8ea86d39-ba43-4d13-ab5d-eaeb53c21798&pf_rd_p=8ea86d39-ba43-4d13-ab5d-eaeb53c21798&pf_rd_r=BR5NC42BJ4MPYQD8Q9SE&pd_rd_wg=lrBpm&pd_rd_r=d69ffeb2-058e-4eed-b4b4-cb3c858c14d0&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&th=1

I just bought these from Amazon. I like that they are bright as I can easily find them in the big black hole, AKA my purse.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJ7Q4JJN?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

I did buy the neoprene ones that were suggested above, but have not tried it yet. I think it will be good though!

I did learn a valuable lessons on our trip last month. I always take just one pair of readers. Of course one of the arms fell off of it, and I couldn't see to shove it back on, so I was on the hunt for a new pair. We were in Iceland, so not a place with a lot of options outside of the city. I finally found a pair at one gift shop, but paid a small fortune for them. They are also the new fashion of the larger frames, which are not the best on me, but I did not have a choice. So the set of cases that I linked to above will be perfect for travel.

When I only needed readers, I bought a foldable pair at the drugstore that folded into a hard case a little larger than a Zippo lighter. More expensive than non-folding readers, but great for a very small purse.

They worked well as a back-up for a while. Sigh.

Hi Mitzi, I can't help with your short-term problem, but I did want to say that like Susie, I wear progressives all the time even though my distance vision is now 20-20 after cataract surgery. I'm constantly switching from computer to book to distance vision and I hate taking glasses on and off every few minutes. I adjusted to progressives almost instantly (years ago) when I needed them for all distances due to astigmatism and extreme near-sightedness. I love them. My glasses are also transitions, so no need for sunglasses. I do take a pair of readers in case I break my glasses since I can get by that way, but I see it won't work for you. I hope you can come up with a solution so you will only need two pairs--one you wear and one you carry--when you return from your trip.

Best of luck on this upcoming trip--I hope you have a great time.