Innocent mistake on long flight could have devastating consequences for travelers

An everyday habit during a long-haul flight could have painful consequences for certain travelers — with a recent case highlighting some serious dangers. 

The dry air inside an airplane cabin, combined with hours spent wearing contact lenses during a long travel day, can leave the lenses with less moisture and eyes feeling increasingly uncomfortable, experts say.

In some cases, irritation or damage to the surface of the eye can lead to more serious problems.

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One traveler recently described temporarily losing vision in one eye after returning home from an international trip, according to the New York Post.

The woman said she wore her contact lenses throughout an 11-hour flight home from Greece and for roughly 24 hours of travel — while also wearing them while swimming and showering, according to the outlet.

Within days of returning home, the traveler developed pain and sensitivity to light before her vision significantly worsened. 

Doctors eventually diagnosed her with a corneal ulcer. 

She underwent weeks of treatment with eye drops and was left with a small scar that continues to blur part of her vision, the outlet reported.

Valerie Kattouf, an Illinois-based optometrist, told Fox News Digital that wearing contacts during extended flights can increase dry-eye symptoms and lead to irritation, a "sandy, gritty feeling" and intermittent blurred vision.

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"The cabin air has significantly reduced humidity that can actually remove moisture from the contact lens and create more dryness," Kattouf said.

Falling asleep during a long or overnight flight can add another concern for travelers wearing contacts.

"People often sleep on long flights, which contributes to more risk with contact [lens] wear," Kattouf said.

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As a contact lens loses moisture, it may move less freely on the eye, Kattouf said. 

Removing a particularly dry lens could potentially disturb the epithelium, the outer layer of the cornea, causing significant irritation and potentially affecting vision.

For travelers preparing for a long flight, Kattouf recommends bringing an up-to-date pair of prescription glasses.

"Wearing glasses during a long flight is more ideal for eye health and long-term comfortable contact [lens] wear," she said.

As another option, travelers who begin their journey wearing contacts can switch to glasses before sleeping or partway through the flight, Kattouf suggested.

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For those who keep their contacts in, single-use vials of artificial tears may also help provide additional lubrication during the flight, according to Kattouf.

The issue has also led to discussion among travelers online, with some saying they routinely opt for glasses during longer trips.

"I [always] wear glasses on long flights," one Reddit user wrote. "My eyes just feel so much more comfortable by the time I land, and I don't have to worry about taking them out at the airport or on the plane, or sleeping on the plane."

Another traveler said that leaving contacts in place during a flight left the person regretting the decision.

"My eyes were so dry at the end, even with eyedrops," the person wrote.