ANDREW GASSON CONTACT LENSES
A SPECIALIST CONTACT LENS PRACTICE SINCE 1972
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Contact lens wearers should be especially careful when flying
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Dry eyes
Discomfort
Red eyes
Infections
PROBLEMS ARE CAUSED BY
Low humidity
Low level of
oxygen
Poor
handling in strange surroundings
Solutions
HUMIDITY AND DEHYDRATION
Low humidity
in cabin
Alcohol -
freely available and dehydrates the system
Other
medications - e.g antihistamines - also dehydrate
Modern
lenses dehydrate faster
OXYGEN
Lens
dehydration reduces oxygen supply to the eye
Lower
partial pressure of oxygen in the cabin
Falling
asleep on the flight = accidental extended wear
INFECTIONS
Pathogens in
recirculated air
Secondary to
sinus or nasal problems
Reduced
resistance to infection because of:
 | Impaired tears film
| Fatigue
| Less efficient solutions used while travelling | |
ADVICE TO LENS WEARERS
Avoid lenses
while flying, especially long-haul flights
Consider daily
disposables while travelling
Use comfort
drops to lubricate eyes and lenses
Avoid
alcohol
Take extra
care with solutions while travelling:
| Simpler systems must still be used as recommended
| No short cuts
| Avoid new or untried solutions
| Overseas solutions with the same name may have different formulation | |
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