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If you wear contact lenses, you might need to reconsider when and where to use them, especially in light of new advice from a specialist optometrist warning that travelers could unknowingly be risking their eye health.
Neil Laird from Pure Optical notes that some typical in-flight and travel habits may silently jeopardize your vision. He points out that contact lens users could encounter discomfort, dryness, and a “higher risk of infection if proper care isn’t taken.”
Laird advises against wearing contacts on planes due to the extremely low humidity in cabin air, which is often drier than desert conditions, creating a tough environment for your eyes. “Contact lenses count on moisture to remain comfortable and safeguard your eyes. Wearing them on long flights may cause dryness, irritation, redness, and, in severe cases, even corneal abrasions or infections,” he warned.
To avoid such issues, it’s advisable to switch to glasses during flights. If you must use contact lenses, select daily disposables and apply lubricating eye drops regularly to maintain moisture in your eyes during the trip.
If you plan to sleep, take extra precautions. “Your eyes receive less oxygen at high altitudes,” Laird mentioned, noting that sleeping with contact lenses on an aircraft creates “an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, increasing the odds of serious infections like microbial keratitis.”
Therefore, always remove your lenses before napping on a plane. Ensure to carry a travel-sized lens case and fresh lens solution in your hand luggage to store your lenses securely during your rest.
In a final warning, the eye expert also urges holidaymakers to be careful once they land. Whether you’re taking a refreshing dip in the pool or exploring underwater while snorkelling, contact lenses and water simply don’t mix, he says.
He explained: “Lakes, pools and oceans all carry a risk of microbial contamination. Wearing lenses while swimming dramatically increases the chance of infection, especially Acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare but serious condition that’s difficult to treat.”
To protect your eyes, always remove your lenses before swimming, or opt for prescription swim goggles instead, and never reuse lenses that have come into contact with any type of water. Laird concluded: “Between dry cabin air, reduced sleep and other travel stresses, they can get easily irritated or even damaged, but with just a little preparation, you can enjoy your trip without putting your vision at risk.”
