Wearing Contacts + International Flying

[bike21]

After 20+ years of successful LASIK, I've needed glasses of late and thinking about trying contacts again. Anyone flying international gigs doing the contact thing?

Wondering if the new fangled daily contacts work with a nap schedule and how managing wearing contacts might work with an upside down schedule.

 

[Stone Cold]

I was flat out told by my AME either wear glasses, or get LASIK, as you’ll end up with an eye infection. I got LASIK in 2019. Ymmv.

 

[Maurus]

It isn't that bad. Unless you are doing super long haul your naps on break aren't long enough to matter IMO.

When I got to the hotel I would take my contacts out for my nap and put them in a mild solution like opti-free rather than one using a hydrogen peroxide version.

I never have worn dailies. I have always just used monthly contacts. I also don't fly international any more but I will again one day.

IMO it seems like daily contacts may be better but I don't know what it is like napping with them compared to monthly contacts. Obviously you would just replace them in the hotel so that nap wouldn't be an issue.

I will say, dailies will help a ton with places like the UK. While I hear LHR has improved, airport security in the UK is horrible and you will lose liquids.

 

[Cessnaflyer]

I’ve been flying with daily contacts for 20 years now. I’ve never had an issue with our longer legs with augmented crew and sleeping. I also use the daily’s for about a week and clean them every night.

 

[tlove482]

I was flat out told by my AME either wear glasses, or get LASIK, as you’ll end up with an eye infection. I got LASIK in 2019. Ymmv.

Been wearing contacts for 30 years with zero eye infections.