An optometrist is advising travelers to consider wearing prescription glasses on long flights, saying dry cabin air and prolonged contact-lens use can leave eyes uncomfortable and may increase irritation risks.
Valerie Kattouf, an Illinois-based optometrist, told Fox News Digital that low humidity in aircraft cabins can reduce moisture in contact lenses. She said symptoms may include dryness, a gritty feeling and intermittent blurred vision. Sleeping while wearing contacts can add further risk, she said.
The report recounts a traveler’s experience, described to the New York Post, after an 11-hour flight home from Greece. The woman reportedly wore her contacts for about 24 hours of travel, including while swimming and showering. Days later, she developed eye pain and sensitivity to light, followed by a significant decline in vision. Doctors diagnosed a corneal ulcer, and she received weeks of treatment with eye drops. The report says she was left with a small scar that continues to blur part of her vision.
Kattouf said a contact lens that has dried out may move less freely across the eye. Removing it could disturb the cornea’s outer layer, she said. Her suggestions for long-haul travelers include bringing current prescription glasses or changing from contacts to glasses before sleeping or partway through a flight. She also said single-use artificial-tear vials may provide additional lubrication for people who keep their lenses in.
The reported case is one individual’s experience and does not establish how likely such complications are for other travelers. People experiencing eye pain or changes in vision should seek advice from a qualified medical professional.
