Is flying bad for eye pressure?

Air travel rarely has any effect on intraocular pressure (IOP). Because the air pressure within the cabin is carefully regulated as the plane ascends and descends, there is little change in eye pressure. Air travel does affect the volume of gases in the air.



People Also Ask

People with glaucoma can usually fly on an airplane without any problems. Controlled air pressure inside the airplane's cabin makes up for most of the natural drop in pressure when the plane reaches higher altitudes. A moderate decrease in atmospheric pressure will not cause an obvious rise in eye pressure.

MORE DETAILS

Air travel will not make retinal holes or wrinkles worse; however, retinal holes can sometimes turn into a retinal detachment. This is an eye emergency so you need to talk to your eye doctor about any long travel plans. You don't want to get caught in an eye emergency when you are far away from home.

MORE DETAILS

angina or chest pain at rest. an infectious disease (e.g. chickenpox, flu), including COVID-19. decompression sickness after diving (sometimes called 'the bends') increased pressure in the brain (due to bleeding, injury or infection)

MORE DETAILS

Ischaemic optic neuropathy, exacerbation of diabetic cystoid macular oedema and neuro-ocular vestibular dysfunction (NOVD) have all been associated with air travel. Air turbulence can cause NOVD or motion sickness.

MORE DETAILS

However, flying is possible for cases of controlled chronic intracranial hypertension. In many cases following treatment and medications, the increased fluid and pressure around the brain is under control and flying is possible, but not completely painless.

MORE DETAILS

The simulation with this model suggested that intracranial air volumes above 11 ml could result in intracranial hypertension during the drop in cabin pressure [5]. Moreover, the increase in ICP was also found to depend on the rate of change in cabin pressure [2, 5].

MORE DETAILS

As a general rule, flying with a sinus infection and a congested nose is not advised. Changes in cabin air pressure affect the air inside and outside of your head. As a result, clogged sinuses, which prevent you from equalizing pressure differences, can be excruciatingly painful.

MORE DETAILS