Planning a Road Trip After LASIK: Why You Should Do It & Where to Start

There are a wide variety of summer activities LASIK eye surgery makes easier, and road trips are one of them. By offering you freedom from glasses and contact lenses, it means there’s one less thing to add to your packing list.

But it doesn’t stop there. After LASIK, you won’t have to worry about the inconvenience of wearing contacts for a long period, like when driving. You also won’t have to constantly be on the lookout for a clean bathroom where you can take out your contacts. Similarly, if the sun is in your eyes, you’re no longer only limited to prescription sunglasses. Plus, it gives you the freedom to rock any style of sunglasses – just make sure they offer adequate UV protection!

Given how much easier road trips are after a vision correction procedure, it’s one activity to put on your post-LASIK bucket list. Below, we provide our top tips for planning a road trip after LASIK so you can celebrate your new vision.

Plan Your Route Beforehand

The biggest thing to decide before hitting the road is where you’re going to go. You’ll need to take a variety of factors into consideration, including your budget and how much time you have. Road trips can be a day long or last for weeks. Typically, places that are farther away will result in a pricier trip, since you’ll be spending more on gas, food, and accommodations.

It’s not just about picking a destination; you also need to choose the route. It’s wise to plan where you’ll stop, whether it’s just for gas or an overnight stay. This helps you plan out and manage your time better. Identify important landmarks, tourist hot spots, or scenic areas you’ll want to stop at along the way.

If you want to drive across Canada or just a specific part of it, check out Canadian Affair’s guide to the ultimate Canadian road-trip, which recommends the best road trips and what to do in each location. Or, if you want to shift gears on the other side of the border, give Reader’s Digest’s recommendations for the ultimate American road trip a read, which suggests popular routes like the Oregon Trail or Route 66.

Get Your Car in Order

The type of car you choose to use is going to have a big impact on your experience. If the vehicle is too small, your group may feel cramped during the ride. Similarly, if the car is unreliable or old, it may risk breaking down mid-road trip. Not only will this waste time, but it may end up costing you a pretty penny.

Driving tests warns that not every car is cut-out for a road trip. The best types of vehicles for long drives are convertibles, sport cars, and ones with good gas mileage. SUVs or minivans are also good for folks travelling in large groups.

Even more, once you decide on a car, make sure to get it a tune up. Have a mechanic check for any issues that could become a problem on the road. Consider having your oil changed, refilling your windshield wiper fluid, and having the brakes and lights checked to ensure they’re in working order. Give Maxwell Ford’s road trip car maintenance checklist a look for a full list of what you should to do ensure your car is ready to hit the road before a big trip.

Get Enough Rest

Blurry vision can be an issue when you’re on the road for an extended period of time. LASIK eye surgery is one way to avoid this issue and can ultimately free you from glasses and contact lenses, so you can stay focused on the road ahead.

But protecting your eyes doesn’t stop there. It’s also important to ensure you get enough rest. The quality of our eyesight is largely linked to sleep. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) warns that not getting enough sleep can result in dry, itchy, or bloodshot eyes. It can also reduce the amount of tears the eye produces, which increases the risk of eye infections. Plus, being exhausted at the wheel is, all in all, unsafe. Make sure to make a pit stop or swap drivers when sleepiness sets in!

So, if you know you’re going to be on the road for a long time, ensuring you get enough rest is critical. You don’t want to compromise the quality of your eyesight when driving, which, in turn, can risk your safety. Even if it means you start the day a bit later or forgo a tourist attraction (or two), getting an adequate amount of rest when you’re the driver of a road trip is of the utmost importance.

Plan Your Entertainment

It’s important to plan ahead in terms of entertainment so you can keep the excitement alive the entire drive. To do this, think about who’s going to be in your group.

If you’re travelling with children, bring kid-friendly activities, like coloring books. Turn on a movie if your car has the option. Compile a playlist of songs the whole car will enjoy singing to. Consider checking out LASIK MD’s Spotify playlists for a mix of relaxing and upbeat music. If you’re travelling with an older group, think of some car games that can provide a fun distraction. Check out Buzzfeed’s list of road trip games for inspiration.

Road trips are a classic summer activity and given how much easier they are once you’ve had LASIK, there’s never been a better time to hit the road than post-procedure. If you're interested in learning more about how LASIK eye surgery or another vision procedure can transform your life, book a free, no-obligation consultation today.