Will flying above eight thousand feet have any effect on my eye pressure?
DEC 11, 2013
Question:
My husband flies a small airplane which is not pressurized. I have glaucoma. I had selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) surgery last week and will not know until the end of next month if my IOP is below 16 which was the measure on the day of surgery. Will flying above 8,000 feet have any effect on my eye pressure? Does flying on commercial airlines pressurized to 8,000 feet have a negative effect on IOP?
Answer:
Neither pressure situation should have a sustained detrimental effect on your intraocular pressure. Nor should flying affect the outcome of your SLT procedure.