Think twice about wearing contact lenses on flights
Experts say wearing contact lenses on short flights is usually fine if your eyes are healthy, but longer trips expose eyes to dry cabin air and reduced oxygen, raising risks like discomfort, irritation, corneal micro-tears or infection and, rarely, temporary vision loss—especially if you sleep with lenses. If you wear lenses while traveling, practice good hygiene (wash hands, use fresh solution, avoid tap water, use proper cases), use artificial tears, replace lenses as needed, and bring a backup pair of glasses. For extended travel or persistent dryness, switch to glasses and avoid transferring contact solution to other containers.
