If you wear contact lenses, then you may want to rethink about when and where you wear them. It comes after a fresh warning from a specialist optometrist who says that travellers could be putting themselves at risk and not know it.
According to Neil Laird, from Pure Optical, some of the most common in-flight and on-the-go habits could be quietly putting your vision at risk. He explained that contact lens wearers may experience discomfort and dryness and “even increase the risk of infection without adequate care”.
Urging people to stop, he nsaid that the air inside aeroplane cabins have very low humidity which is often even drier than desert air, thus creating a harsh environment for your eyes. “Contact lenses rely on a moist environment to stay comfortable and protect your eyes. Wearing them on long-haul flights can cause dryness, irritation, redness and, in severe cases, even corneal abrasions or infection,” he said.
To prevent these problems, it’s recommended to wear glasses during flights. However, if you need to wear contact lenses, opt for daily disposables and use lubricating eye drops regularly to keep your eyes moisturised throughout the journey.
If you want to sleep, you should also take some precautions. “Your eyes already get less oxygen at high altitudes,” Laird said, adding that wearing contacts when you are sleeping, especially on a plane, can create “an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive, raising the risk of serious infections like microbial keratitis”.
Because of this, you should always remove your lenses before taking a nap on the plane and make sure to pack a travel-sized lens case and fresh lens solution in your hand luggage so you can safely store your lenses while you 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.”