I’m sure you’ve heard people say that it isn’t safe to sleep with your contact lenses on. Or maybe you have a pair and you just naturally feel like sleeping in them isn’t such a good idea.

Whether it’s common sense or hearsay, this article will reassure you that you shouldn’t sleep in your contact lenses, ever.

There has actually been reports of people losing their sight because of the slept with their contact lenses on. And a number of recent discoveries point out that we really need to avoid this bad habit.

And it is a habit because it happens a lot. The most common mistake that people who wear contacts make is sleeping with their lenses on, which was noted in a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

How do contact lenses affect your eyes?

Your eyes have a transparent tissue called the cornea which needs oxygen from the air around you.

When you put on your contact lenses, you start to lessen the oxygen that goes to your cornea.

And when you close your eyes with your contact lenses on, then the amount of oxygen that reaches your cornea greatly decreases.

The lack of oxygen can cause your cornea to swell up which allows some bacteria to seep in.

The bacteria can cause eye infections that can lead to very serious eye problems.

As said byKerry Assil, M.D., who works as an eye surgeon at the Assil Eye Institute, Los Angeles.

Common Problems

Sleeping with your contact lenses on may cause eye infections, corneal ulcers, and other eye problems.

If you want to keep the quality of your vision, be sure to take off your contact lenses before you sleep.

And be mindful of the following common problems that justify why you shouldn’t sleep in your contact lenses.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, which is commonly referred to as pink eye, is the inflammation of your conjunctiva.

Your conjunctiva is a thin transparent tissue on top of the white part of your eyes.

It is also located in the lines which are in your eyelid. When you have pink eye, your eyes can turn pink or reddish and can discharge a lot of mucus.

Your eyes can feel very uncomfortable, irritated, and itchy.

Although pink eye doesn’t usually lead to any serious eye problems, it can be very unpleasant to have.

Imagine working all day while your eyes constantly ooze, itch, and hurt. That doesn’t sound very pleasing at all.

If you feel any of these pink eye symptoms, you should take off your contact lenses right away.

Keratitis

Keratitis is also an inflammation that is similar to pink eye. Its symptoms are very similar to pink eye, however keratitis can damage your vision.

A study by the Center for Contact Lens Research (CCLR) says that sleeping with your contacts on can increase your risk of havingmicrobial keratitis.

If you have keratitis, you may feel severe eye pains and sensitivity to bright lights.

If not treated properly, keratitis can lead to permanent vision damage or even blindness.

Corneal Neovascularization

Corneal Neovascularization is when your eyes grow more blood vessels which impairs your vision.

This affects the transparency of your cornea which blocks light from passing through the cornea in a normal way.

In other words, if you develop corneal neovascularization, your eyes become hazy and you lose the quality of your vision.

You can treat your corneal neovascularization through medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-VEGF agents, and MMP inhibitors.

You also have surgical options such as laser ablation, photodynamic therapy, or diathermy and cautery.

Just remember to get your eyes checked by a professional and consult your doctor before you make any decisions.

And keep in mind that prevention is always better than cure. So keep reading this article for tips on how to take care of your eyesight.

You Shouldn’t Sleep in your Contact Lenses

By now, you must already be reconsidering sleeping with your contacts on. But you might be wondering if it is ok to keep your contacts for a quick nap.

If you want to walk on a tightrope or live life at the edge of danger, the you very well could.

But if your like everyone else who likes to play safe and keep the quality of their vision, we suggest that you avoid having naps with your contacts on.

Can a 15 minute nap really hurt?

The swelling in your eyes start as soon as you close your eyelids. So the risk of developing eye problems increase as you sleep longer.

Every blink that you make when you wear contacts also causes micro abrasions in your eyes.

This causes the inner lining of your eyelids to become rough and more dry than usual.

So if your eyes are dry from always wearing your contacts and you decide to sleep with them still on, then your very likely to develop some eye issues.

Although 15 minutes isn’t that long, it is still better to avoid any potential eye problems.

Unless you really like risks and enjoy living on the wild side of life, you shouldn’t sleep in your contact lenses.

Daily use of contact lenses

Basically, everyone’s eyes naturally get dry and be prone to eye infections. But if you are a constant contact lens user, and you sleep with them on, then your increasing your chances of having eye infections.

So it would be better to stay on the safe side and give your eyes a break from your contact lenses, especially when you snooze.

But if you really have to take quick nap, then you can always spare a few seconds to take your contacts off. Remember, prevention is better than cure.

So you should always try your best to remove your contacts before closing your eyes for long periods of time.

If you wear your contacts all day, you definitely shouldn’t sleep in your contact lenses!

Safety Tips

If you want to avoid those scary eye infections, then you should practice the following:

• Never forget to wash your hands with soap and water before using your contact lenses.
• Only use approved contact lens solutions when you wash or rinse your contact lenses.
• Rub your lenses gently to remove any bacteria or debris that might have stuck on them.
• You should change your contact lens cases every three to four months.
• Always keep your lenses inside a clean case with fresh solution everyday.

Do you have an eye infection?

You can always develop good habits to preserve your eyesight. But you can’t always avoid accidents or certain circumstances.

So if you constantly wear contact lenses and you start to feel like your eyes are irritated, then you should get them checked.

And you definitely shouldn’t sleep in your contact lenses.

Do you notice that your vision has decreased lately? A decreased vision is a clear sign that your eyes are not in their top condition.

If it is accompanied by reddening eyes and watery discharges, then you may have an infection.

Try removing your lens, and if it doesn’t ease the problem, then you should go see an eye doctor. If you’re new at wearing contact lenses, then you should ask your doctor about proper contact lens care.

Remember, contact lenses are convenient and safe. You just have to be responsible in when to use your contact lenses and how to take care of your eyes. And remember, you shouldn’t sleep in your contact lenses!

REFERENCES:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/blind-in-one-eye-after-sleeping-with-contacts_n_55d76a51e4b04ae497032201

https://contactlensupdate.com/2011/09/26/non-compliance-so-what/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1331092/