Hello, im 31 years old and have been diabetic for almost 27 years now. My eyes are badly damaged and my Estonian doctor said i cant fly if i dont want to get blind but now UK doctors say that flying is no problem. I want to go to visite my family and this would be the easy and cheap way to get to Estonia, but im still a bit scared. I think im looking for people with diabetic rethinopathy to share their flying experience.... Riina
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Eyes and flying
- Thread starter RRiina
- Start Date
mrburden
Well-Known Member
Hi,
I'm 45, been T1 for 34 years and suffer from retinopathy and glaucoma. I have had 3 vitrectomies in the past and I have flown from the UK to the US many times since the operations. I have never had any problems with my eyes during or after flights. I understand that some people suffer with "dry" eyes due to the climate in the aircraft. This can be a bit worse if you have existing eye problems but you can use eye drops to ease the feeling during the flight. I have been told by my consultant that flying will not cause any problems with the retinopathy, but to avoid flights within the first 2 months following an operation. Ask your eye specialist or optician for their opinions.
Hope that helps.
MB
I'm 45, been T1 for 34 years and suffer from retinopathy and glaucoma. I have had 3 vitrectomies in the past and I have flown from the UK to the US many times since the operations. I have never had any problems with my eyes during or after flights. I understand that some people suffer with "dry" eyes due to the climate in the aircraft. This can be a bit worse if you have existing eye problems but you can use eye drops to ease the feeling during the flight. I have been told by my consultant that flying will not cause any problems with the retinopathy, but to avoid flights within the first 2 months following an operation. Ask your eye specialist or optician for their opinions.
Hope that helps.
MB
Hi, thank you. It does help. I have known for 7-8 years that i cant fly and suddenly it all changed. I am very happy i can fly but just a bit confused because i trusted my Estonian doctor before and missed out some wonderful trips with my friends becase of that. Than you very much MB, i can go on holiday without the worry of getting blind because of the flight.
