Wearing contact lenses while flying is a common mistake made by tourists. During the flight, their choice should be in favor of glasses, despite the seeming inconveniences. Tourist Sabina, better known as Girl vs Globe, talked about the reasons for changing glasses while on the plane in a video on her YouTube channel.
According to the traveler, the whole thing is dry air in airplanes, which can affect the body more than passengers can imagine. And in combination with contact lenses, it can cause a feeling of “prickly” and discomfort in the tourist. “Don’t wear contact lenses, wear glasses, because the dry air will make it look like you have sandpaper under your eyelids,” she explained.
Contact lens sellers also advise against wearing their products on flights, saying: “Lack of oxygen can cause dry eyes, causing the lenses to contract in the eyes, which can cause microscopic tears in the cornea. This effect can occur even with regular contact lens wear, so you can imagine how the effect doubles when you’re on a plane.” However, if the thought of getting on a plane without contact lenses worries you, experts recommend a compromise: remove them before going to bed on board the liner.
Travelers who use reusable lenses should bring a small bottle of solution to store while sleeping, and travelers who prefer disposable lenses should bring an extra pair.
However, aviation experts reminded us that dry air can also affect taste and vision. This happens because it dries out the mucous membrane of the nose and makes the taste buds less receptive. The effect can be compared to the condition of a cold, when the sense of smell is weakened and the sense of taste is dulled. Due to these physiological changes, travelers think that the food on board is fresh.
The advice of experienced tourists is one: take moisturizing drops for the eyes and nose with you. “The dry atmosphere in the salon can cause dryness and discomfort in the eyes, so I keep small disposable bottles of moisturizing eye drops to keep my eyes hydrated and in excellent condition,” one of them shared.