{"id":17950,"date":"2021-10-20T09:34:28","date_gmt":"2021-10-20T09:34:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=17950"},"modified":"2021-10-20T09:34:28","modified_gmt":"2021-10-20T09:34:28","slug":"why-does-air-travel-cause-dry-eyes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/dry-eye\/what-is-dry-eye-syndrome\/why-does-air-travel-cause-dry-eyes\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Does Air Travel Cause Dry Eyes?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The low levels of humidity in an airplane cabin cause aqueous tear evaporation to increase – resulting in eye dryness and discomfort.<\/b><\/h2>\n

Low levels of relative humidity, such as those found in airplane cabins, promote an increase in aqueous tear evaporation and a worsening of dry eye symptoms<\/a>, according to a study published in Eye & Contact Lens.<\/i><\/p>\n

The research was carried out at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, where 29 people were analyzed. Eighteen of the participants had dry eye syndrome, while the other 11 were healthy. Each patient’s dry eye symptoms were similar in both eyes.<\/p>\n

The study found that low humidity, such as on airplane flights, increases aqueous tear evaporation and may cause some form of dryness and discomfort.<\/p>\n

Low humidity conditions, such as in airplane cabins during flight, cause an increase in tear evaporation that intensifies dry eye symptoms.<\/b><\/p>\n

Any aqueous surface will evaporate if the humidity or environment is less than 100 percent. The higher the rate of evaporation, the lower the relative humidity.<\/p>\n

SEE RELATED: <\/strong>Why is Dry Eye Worse in the Mornings?<\/a><\/p>\n

If you suffer from dry eye, contact an eye doctor near you<\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\t

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