Yes. Flying with a perforated eardrum should cause you less discomfort than if your eardrum is unbroken.
If you’ve had surgery to repair a perforated eardrum (myringoplasty), you shouldn’t fly until your doctor or surgeon says it’s safe.
What is a perforated eardrum?
If you have a perforated or ruptured eardrum, it means that there is a hole or tear in your eardrum. Your eardrum is a thin layer of tissue that separates the outer ear from the middle ear.
When you have a perforated eardrum, the air pressure in your middle ear should balance out more easily with the pressure in the surrounding air because the air is able to pass through the hole.
When your eardrum is unbroken, air can only pass into or out of your middle ear through a tube that connects your middle ear to the back of your nose and throat (eustachian tube). The eustachian tube is closed most of the time and only opens when you yawn or swallow.
Flying
When a plane takes off, the air pressure inside the cabin drops. This means that the air pressure in your middle ear is higher than the air pressure inside the cabin. This change in pressure is gradual. It doesn’t usually cause a problem (whether your eardrum is perforated or not) because the air is forced down the eustachian tube, and the pressure evens out.
During descent, the air pressure in your middle ear is lower than in the cabin, and the eustachian tube can become blocked. The low pressure in your middle ear can cause your eardrum to press inwards, which can cause discomfort, pain and temporary hearing loss. However, this usually returns to normal by itself after a short while.
If you have a hole in your eardrum, the air can move into and out of your middle through the hole without relying on the eustachian tube. Therefore, you probably won’t get as much discomfort.
To find out more about looking after your ears when you fly, see How can I have a healthy and comfortable flight?
Keep your ear dry
If you have a perforated eardrum, you should keep your ear dry to reduce the risk of an ear infection. Do not go swimming or diving, and be careful not to get water in your ear in the shower. The Health A-Z has more information about treating a perforated eardrum.
Read the answers to more questions about travel health.
Further information:
