Anyone who wears contact lenses has probably heard or been told not to sleep in contacts but understanding why this is such a bad idea is important. Not all contact lenses are designed the same way and there are some which are approved for overnight wear, but the vast majority of contact lenses should not be worn while sleeping.
Sleeping in contact lenses can lead to problems such as infections, scratches, or swelling of the front of the eye. To minimize any risk associated with contact lenses, do not sleep in your contacts, and always replace them regularly.
What Happens to the Eyes at Night
When sleeping, the eyes have to adapt to not being able to get oxygen from the air directly. These changes create an environment that makes wearing contact lenses more dangerous and potentially problematic.
The cornea, which is the clear front of the eye, will typically get most of the oxygen it needs from the air directly, but this option is not available when the eyes are closed during sleep.
Instead, the cornea must rely on the small blood vessels on the inside of the eyelids to transmit oxygen to it.
The process of oxygen transmission from these blood vessels is less effective than from the air and the cornea must operate with less oxygen than during the daytime.
Problems with Wearing Contact Lenses at Night
When there is a contact lens in place, the oxygen transmission becomes so low that it no longer meets the need for the cornea.
This leads to a signal for new blood vessels to grow into the cornea.
With these new blood vessels, the cornea can become cloudy and compromised – making it easier for bacteria to infect it.
Also, when the cornea is weakened by these changes, it can be easier to scratch, especially when removing a contact lens that has been overworn.
Infection from Sleeping in Contacts
The biggest concern for sleeping with contact lenses is the development of a bacterial infection in the eye.
The type of infection that will often occur is called a bacterial corneal ulcer.
These ulcers will be extremely painful and cause light sensitivity. Most of the time, these symptoms will begin immediately after waking when sleeping in contact lenses.
A corneal ulcer can lead to a scar in the cornea which can impact vision permanently if the scar is in the line of sight.
Seeking treatment quickly is important to reduce the risk of scarring and prevent the infection from spreading beyond the cornea.
Treatment will include an antibiotic eye drop and discontinuing contact lens wear altogether while the ulcer heals.
Alternatives to Sleeping in Contact Lenses
When sleeping in your contact lenses has become a habit, it can be difficult to see how to change this practice.
A few things that can make it easier to not sleep in contacts include switching to daily disposable contact lenses which are discarded after one day of wear and making sure to have an updated backup pair of glasses to wear after removing the contacts.
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