Why you shouldn't wear contact lenses on airplanes
New York Post • • health
Key Points:
- Contact lens wearers can generally wear contacts on short flights if their eyes are healthy and they do not plan to sleep during the flight, according to Dr. Priya M. Mathews.
- Long flights pose risks for contact lens users due to dry cabin air and reduced oxygen, which can cause discomfort, dryness, irritation, and even micro-tearing or infection, potentially leading to temporary or permanent vision loss.
- Sleeping with contacts in significantly increases the risk of eye infections, and glasses are recommended if eyes are already irritated, red, or infected.
- Good hygiene practices such as washing hands, using fresh contact lens solution, avoiding tap water, and using artificial tears can help mitigate discomfort and infection risk during travel.
- Travelers should maintain their regular contact lens replacement schedule, pack a backup pair of glasses, and use travel-sized contact lens solution without transferring it to other containers to avoid contamination.
