(I-MED Pharma)
Updated February 2026 with the latest recommendations for keeping up with a stepped dry eye care management routine at home and when travelling.
When it comes to airplane travel, the discomfort caused by dry eyes can put a damper on an otherwise exciting experience. With the dry air on airplanes and potentially long travel times, it’s important to remember the effects that flying can have on your eyes and show them some extra care!
All Your Bags Are Packed, You’re Ready to Go
The scene is set: your vacation time from work has been approved. Your pets are all set to be looked after in your absence. You’ve managed to get your packed suitcase shut, even if it took some effort. The last thing you want is for your carefully laid plans to be derailed, so if you are experiencing any troubles with your eyes, take a moment to be aware of some considerations before you fly.
If you’ve recently had eye surgery, keep your recovery time in mind. With many eye surgeries, such as laser eye surgery (LASIK) and cataract and glaucoma surgery, you will ordinarily be able to fly within a day or several days[1]. However, with certain surgeries and complex operations, flying right away is not a good idea. In some cases, such as when gas or liquid is inserted into the eyes during surgery, flying can be dangerous[2]. Make sure to discuss flying after your surgery with your surgeon and to plan around any follow-up appointments: for the sake of your recovery, it’s important that you don’t miss your scheduled follow-ups.
Additionally, some conditions like eye infections and pink eye can be contagious. While flying does not pose a greater risk to your eyes in the case of infection[3], it can be an uncomfortable experience, and caution should be taken to avoid infecting others.
If you’re planning on flying while suffering from an eye problem, discuss it with your health care provider beforehand, so they can assess the situation and help you make an informed decision. For eye conditions and post-surgical flights, it’s also worth verifying the policies of the airline you intend to fly with and your insurance company, to make sure that you will not be denied boarding and will still be covered.
Keeping up with your 4-step routine while you travel
Travel can disrupt even the best routines, but by following the same four-step approach you use at home: heating, cleansing, hydrating, and nourishing, you can maintain consistency wherever you go. Packing travel-friendly options and sticking to your morning and nighttime routines can make a noticeable difference, even in dry airplane cabins or unfamiliar climates. The key is to keep it simple and stay consistent.
Close Your Eyes, and You’ll Be on Your Way
When on board the plane, make sure that you have everything you need to keep your eyes comfortable and hydrated! Maintaining cabin pressure and temperature necessitates a high rate of air exchange, which entails an increased air flow. Because the air is constantly being recirculated, the humidity level is lower than usual, which can exacerbate the symptoms of dry eye[4]. These symptoms can include redness, itching or irritation, and blurred vision.
To help alleviate the discomfort of dry eyes on the plane, preservative-free artificial tears are your friend. These eye drops for dry eyes can be popped in your carry-on bag to keep your eyes hydrated while in transit. Many in-flight activities – such as playing games on a screen or watching movie after movie – cause you to blink less frequently, which leads to eye dryness, especially when the humidity level in the cabin is so low. Using a gel eye drop like I-DROP® PUR GEL can keep your eyes comfortable and make your experience more enjoyable. If you suffer from evaporative dry eye or MGD, consider a drop that will stabilize and enhance the lipid layer and reduce tear evaporation, like I-DROP® MGD.
For long waits in the airport and layovers, it can be helpful to keep your ocular hygiene in mind. Handy eyelid wipes like I-LID ’N LASH® are the perfect travel companion, since they remove ocular debris and reduce bioburden while gently cleansing and hydrating the eyelids and lashes, helping to break the dry eye cycle and improve the effectiveness of artificial tears. If you find yourself waking from fitful sleep at the end of a long flight and stepping off the plane with dry, puffy eyes, take a moment to clean your eyelids and lashes with a gentle ocular hygiene cleanser that will soothe the delicate skin around the eyes and keep them feeling refreshed.
Lastly, drink water. A reusable water bottle can be taken through airport security as long as it’s empty, and many airports offer free bottle-filling stations. Beyond its role in maintaining overall health, whole-body hydration has been shown to play a significant part in managing dry eye[5], so don’t overlook its importance!
Every Place Eye Go, I’ll Think of You
You’ve made it to your destination! Now for some things to bear in mind for when you’re out in the world:
The climate can have a big impact on your eyes: factors like humidity, temperature, wind, dust and pollen can affect the ocular surface and cause discomfort[6]. Particularly if you are visiting a hot, sunny, or low-humidity location, keep your eye drops handy to hydrate your eyes. If you’ll be spending time outside, UV-protective eyewear is highly advisable to shield your eyes from the sun. You can also bring a hydrating and cleansing spray to keep your eyelids and lashes clean when you’re out and about, like I-LID ‘N LASH® HOCL Cleansing Spray. With no need to rinse, it’s ideal for maintaining eyelid hygiene conveniently during travel.
Additionally, taking a systemic approach to maintaining your eye health is incredibly valuable before and during travel. As mentioned, drinking enough water is critical, and the right nutritional intake can also help keep dry eye symptoms at bay. Nutritional supplements like I-VU® OMEGA-3 liquid or I-VU® OMEGA-3 PLUS capsules for dry eyes can supply a high daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids, providing ongoing relief and helping to improve discomforting symptoms.
Take time to relax! After a long day of sightseeing, you might be met with ocular discomfort, headaches, or tension, and the perfect way to find relief is to lie back with a therapeutic eye mask for hot or cold therapy. The microwavable and freezable I-RELIEF™ eye mask for dry eyes can ease your discomfort during your travels, with moist heat therapy to relieve itchy, red, or irritated eyes, as well as cold therapy to constrict the blood vessels to target headaches, swelling, and puffiness.
Don’t Know When Dry Eye’ll Be Back Again
Now you’re more prepared to take care of your eyes during your trip, but keeping up with your eye care isn’t just for vacations! If you experience dry eye symptoms anytime during the year, I-MED Pharma offers a complete range of solutions to help you find relief from discomfort. When in doubt, always consult your eye care professional, whom you should be seeing for regular check-ups – they are your best resource to help keep your eyes happy and healthy. And in the meantime: bon voyage!
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[1] Gudgel, Dan. “Can I Fly with This Eye?” Medically reviewed by Raj K Maturi, MD, American Academy of Ophthalmology, 3 Jan. 2017, www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/can-i-fly-with-this-eye.
[2] Lee, Jay Jun, et al. “Eye Disease and International Travel: A Critical Literature Review and Practical Recommendations.” Journal of Travel Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 23 June 2023, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10289526.
[3] Gudgel, Dan. “Can I Fly with This Eye?” Medically reviewed by Raj K Maturi, MD, American Academy of Ophthalmology, 3 Jan. 2017, www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/can-i-fly-with-this-eye.
[4] Tesón, Marisa, et al. “Influence of a controlled environment simulating an in-flight airplane cabin on Dry Eye Disease.” Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, vol. 54, no. 3, Mar. 2013, pp. 2093–2099, https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.12-11361.
[5] Walsh, Neil P., et al. “Is whole-body hydration an important consideration in dry eye?” Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, vol. 53, no. 10, Sept. 2012, pp. 6622–6627, https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.12-10175.
[6] Lee, Jay Jun, et al. “Eye Disease and International Travel: A Critical Literature Review and Practical Recommendations.” Journal of Travel Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 23 June 2023, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10289526.