Contact lens wearers may want to reconsider their choice of vision correction for air travel, especially on longer flights. Experts warn that the low humidity and pressurized environment of airplane cabins can lead to significant eye discomfort and raise the risk of infection.
Dr. Priya M. Mathews, Director of Cornea and Ocular Surface Disease at the Center for Sight, explained that while short flights are generally acceptable for contact lens wear if eyes are healthy and no sleep is planned, longer journeys can pose problems. The dry cabin air can cause both the eyes and the contact lenses to dry out, leading to symptoms such as a gritty feeling, redness, irritation, or pain.
This dryness is often a worsening of pre-existing dry eye conditions, amplified by the cabin environment. Furthermore, the pressurized cabin reduces oxygen supply to the eyes. The combination of dryness and reduced oxygen can, in more severe cases, cause contacts to adhere to the eyeball or lead to micro-tears on the eye's surface. These microscopic injuries, coupled with close proximity to other travelers, increase the likelihood of eye infections.
Dr. Arjan Hura, a surgeon at the Maloney-Shamie-Hura Vision Institute, highlighted that sleeping with contact lenses in significantly elevates the risk of eye infections. Both doctors advise that individuals experiencing red, irritated, or light-sensitive eyes, or those with a pre-existing eye infection, should opt for eyeglasses instead of contact lenses.
For those who choose to wear contacts on a flight, maintaining good hygiene is crucial. Washing hands thoroughly and using fresh contact lens solution each time are recommended. Proper care of contact lens cases and avoiding tap water for cleaning lenses can also help prevent infections. Using artificial tears, replacing lenses with fresh ones, or taking a temporary break from wearing them can also alleviate discomfort.
Travelers on extended trips or multiple flights should adhere to their usual lens replacement schedule. If maintaining good hygiene onboard is difficult, switching to glasses is the safest option. Both Mathews and Hura recommend packing a spare pair of glasses as a backup in case of any issues with contact lenses, cases, or solutions. They also noted that travel-sized contact lens solutions do not need to be transferred to smaller TSA-compliant containers and should be kept in their original packaging to avoid contamination.