Why do my eyes feel dry on holiday?

You have packed the sunscreen, downloaded the boarding passes and charged your headphones, but by the time you land, your eyes are gritty, tired and struggling to focus.

Dry, irritated eyes are a common problem during flights, [1] and there are several genuine reasons why a trip away can leave your eyes feeling worse than when you left home.

It starts before you’ve even landed

Aircraft cabins are much drier than the environments we’re used to on the ground.

Indoor humidity typically sits somewhere around 40 to 60%, but cabin humidity during flight is usually only 10 to 20%. [2]

 Low humidity in airplane cabins increases tear evaporation, which can leave the eyes dry, irritated and uncomfortable. [2]

This is not just anecdotal. A study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science simulated cabin conditions, including low humidity, localised airflow and reduced air pressure. [3]

People with dry eye became more symptomatic and showed reduced tear stability and volume after exposure to these conditions. [3]

Cabin pressurisation itself is typically equivalent to an altitude of around 8,000 feet, which adds to the effect by reducing your body’s tear production and circulation. [4]

A few in-flight habits make things worse. Overhead air vents blow a steady stream of dry air directly at the face and eyes. [4]

Long stretches spent reading, watching films or scrolling on a phone reduce how often we blink, and blinking normally helps spread tears evenly across the eye’s surface [5].

Remove contact lenses before flying and use glasses instead. [4]

Then your destination adds to it

Once you have landed, the environmental factors do not necessarily let up. The NHS notes that hot, dry or windy climates, high altitude, air conditioning and central heating can all cause or worsen dry eyes. [6]

This means a beach holiday with strong sun and sea breeze, or a city break relying heavily on air conditioning, can both keep symptoms going after arrival. [6]

Swimming is another common factor. Pool chlorine and other chemicals used to keep water clean can irritate the eyes [7], while sun, wind and dust at the beach add further strain on the eye’s surface. [7]

What can help your dry eyes on holiday

Most of these triggers are manageable with a few small adjustments.

Closing the air vent, or angling it away from the face, during flights helps reduce the mini wind tunnel effect that increases evaporation. [2]

Blinking consciously and more often when reading, watching a screen or using a phone is worth doing, since a reduced blink rate during these activities is a recognised contributor to in-flight dryness. [5]

Choosing glasses over contact lenses for long journeys is also worth considering, particularly on flights. [4]

Staying hydrated before and during travel is important too, since whole body hydration plays a meaningful part in supporting tear production. [5]

Keeping lubricating eye drops to hand is an easy way to top up moisture during a flight or a hot, windy day out, and preservative free drops can be used as often as needed. [8]

Wearing wraparound sunglasses outdoors reduces wind and dust reaching the eyes and helps shield against UV exposure. [7]

If dryness or irritation is severe, does not ease once home, or is accompanied by pain or changes in vision, it is worth speaking to a pharmacist, optometrist or GP.

1. https://bluefinvision.com/knowledge-base/topics/eye-health/how-does-air-travel-affect-eyes/

2. https://www.eyedistrict.ca/2025/03/02/how-air-travel-affects-dry-eye-tips-for-comfortable-flights/

3. https://www.bostonsight.org/airplanes-and-dry-eye/

4. https://www.theeyepractice.com.au/optometrist-sydney/why-flying-dries-out-your-eyes-and-how-to-prevent-it/

5. https://imedpharma.com/blog/airplane-travel-and-dry-eyes/

6. https://www.hey.nhs.uk/patient-leaflet/dry-eyes/

7. https://goldeneyeoptometry.com/2026/07/20/summertime-dangers/

8. https://totalvisionofdeland.com/can-air-travel-make-your-eyes-feel-dry-heres-what-you-need-to-know/