Herbie Murray
Sleeping in contact lenses can lead to a number of eye issues. The lenses can get stuck to your cornea, and you may wake up with irritated, inflamed, dry, painful, or red eyes. Leaving contacts in while you sleep can also cause eye infections, such as microbial keratitis, which can lead to corneal damage, surgery, and even permanent vision loss. This is because the cornea needs oxygen and moisture to function healthily, and contact lenses act as a barrier, reducing the amount of oxygen and moisture available to the cornea.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Risk of eye infection | Six to eight times higher |
| Oxygen deprivation | Hypoxia |
| Type of infection | Bacterial keratitis, microbial keratitis, fungal keratitis, Ancanthamoeba keratitis |
| Symptoms | Redness, irritation, dryness, pain, inflammation, blurred vision |
| Treatment | Remove lenses, apply eye drops, blink, rest eyes |
| Prevention | Establish a routine, set reminders, use daily disposable lenses, keep a backup pair of glasses |
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What You'll Learn
Increased risk of eye infection
Sleeping in your contact lenses can have adverse effects on your eyes, with one of the most common risks being an increased chance of eye infection. While it may seem like a harmless mistake, falling asleep with your contacts in can have serious consequences.
The cornea of your eye relies on oxygen from the atmosphere, which dissolves in the tear film that coats your eye. Contacts act as a barrier, reducing the amount of oxygen that reaches the cornea. While you're awake, blinking keeps your eyes moist, and oxygen can flow through the tears you produce. However, when you sleep, your eyes make fewer tears, and the contact lenses further decrease the amount of oxygen and moisture your eyes can access. This oxygen deprivation can lead to damage to the epithelial cells of the cornea, causing them to deteriorate and even die.
Additionally, the warm and dark environment created by sleeping with contact lenses provides an optimal environment for bacteria to thrive. The cornea cells become more vulnerable to bacterial infections, and the bacteria can quickly take hold. This can lead to infections such as bacterial keratitis, an infection of the cornea, or microbial keratitis, an inflammation and infection of the cornea caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, or parasites. In some cases, these infections can result in corneal damage, surgery, and even permanent vision loss.
To prevent eye infections, it is crucial to practice good contact lens hygiene. This includes properly cleaning your lenses and following the recommended replacement schedule. If you accidentally fall asleep with your contacts in, remove them as soon as you wake up and let your eyes rest for a full day before wearing lenses again. If you notice any symptoms of infection, such as redness, irritation, or eye pain, consult your eye doctor immediately.
It is important to note that the risks associated with sleeping in contact lenses are not limited to a specific type of lens. Even lenses approved for extended wear can still increase the risk of eye infections. Therefore, it is always best to remove your contact lenses before sleeping and follow the directions provided by your eye doctor to maintain healthy eyes and vision.
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Oxygen deprivation
Oxygen is essential for the health of the cornea, the clear outer layer of the eye. When awake, blinking keeps the eyes moist, and oxygen enters the cornea through the tears. However, contact lenses act as a barrier, reducing the amount of oxygen that reaches the cornea.
During sleep, the amount of oxygen available to the cornea is already reduced due to the eyes being closed. Contact lenses further decrease oxygen access, increasing the risk of infection. This state of oxygen deprivation is called hypoxia. When the cornea is deprived of oxygen, the epithelial cells can be injured and may start to deteriorate and die.
Bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, can infect the cornea, leading to bacterial keratitis. This infection can cause a painful defect in the cornea's surface. Other infections include microbial keratitis, which is an inflammation and infection of the cornea, and fungal keratitis, which can cause blindness if left untreated.
To prevent oxygen deprivation and the associated risks, it is important to remove contact lenses before sleeping. If lenses are accidentally left in while sleeping, they should be removed as soon as possible, and the eyes should be allowed to rest and rehydrate.
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Eye irritation and inflammation
Sleeping in your contact lenses can cause eye irritation and inflammation. This is because the cornea needs access to oxygen from the atmosphere, which contact lenses block. When the cornea does not receive enough oxygen, a condition known as hypoxia can occur, causing the cells in the cornea to deteriorate and die. This can lead to a range of issues, including redness, dryness, and irritation.
In addition to oxygen deprivation, the warmth and darkness created by sleeping with contact lenses can promote bacterial growth. This can result in infections such as bacterial keratitis, an infection of the cornea, or microbial keratitis, a form of corneal inflammation caused by infection. These infections can cause corneal damage, vision loss, and, in rare cases, blindness.
To prevent eye irritation and inflammation, it is important to remove contact lenses as soon as possible upon waking. If the lenses feel stuck, it is recommended to use eye drops and blink until they can be easily removed. Allowing the eyes to breathe and rehydrate is crucial, and wearing contact lenses should be avoided for at least 24 hours to give the eyes time to recover.
Practicing good contact lens hygiene is essential to minimize the risk of eye irritation and inflammation. This includes properly cleaning the lenses and following the cleansing and care routine outlined by an eye doctor or healthcare professional. Additionally, daily disposable lenses can help reduce the risk of falling asleep with contact lenses in.
While it may not always be possible to avoid sleeping in contact lenses, establishing a bedtime routine, setting reminders, and keeping a backup pair of glasses can help minimize the occurrence.
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Corneal damage
The cornea is the clear, outer layer of the eye. It does not have any blood vessels, so it needs access to oxygen in the air. While you sleep, your eyes are closed, reducing the amount of oxygen available to the cornea. Contact lenses act as a barrier, further limiting the amount of oxygen that reaches the cornea, a state known as 'corneal hypoxia'.
Corneal hypoxia can lead to damage to the surface cells of the cornea, known as epithelial cells. When these cells are injured, they can deteriorate and die. In most cases, the cells repair themselves, but if they are deprived of oxygen for too long, this can lead to permanent corneal damage.
A healthy cornea is part of the eye's natural defence against contaminants. However, when the cornea does not receive enough oxygen, it becomes more vulnerable to bacteria. This can lead to bacterial keratitis, an infection of the cornea. Bacterial keratitis is generally caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, both of which are bacteria commonly found on the human body and in the environment.
Bacterial keratitis can cause a painful defect in the cornea's surface, known as a corneal ulcer. If left untreated, the infection can lead to permanent corneal scarring and even vision loss.
In addition to the risk of bacterial keratitis, sleeping in contact lenses can also increase the risk of fungal keratitis, especially if you have experienced some kind of eye trauma, such as being hit by a branch or stick. Fungal keratitis is a leading cause of blindness in India, and it is important to treat it quickly to prevent loss of sight in the infected eye.
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Potential for permanent vision loss
Sleeping in contact lenses can have serious implications for eye health, and in rare cases, it can lead to permanent vision loss. This is primarily due to the increased risk of eye infections, which can cause corneal damage.
The cornea is the clear, outer layer of the eye, and it does not have any blood vessels. Therefore, it relies on oxygen from the atmosphere, which dissolves in the tear film that coats the eye. Contact lenses act as a barrier, reducing the amount of oxygen available to the cornea, a condition known as hypoxia. This oxygen deprivation can lead to damage and even death of the epithelial cells that make up the cornea.
Infections can occur when bacteria and other microorganisms get trapped between the lens and the eye. The warm, dark, and moist environment created by sleeping with contact lenses is ideal for bacterial growth, increasing the risk of infection. Bacterial keratitis, an infection of the cornea, is a common issue that can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated.
Additionally, fungal keratitis is another potential infection. While this usually occurs after some form of eye trauma, sleeping in contact lenses can increase the risk. If not treated promptly, fungal keratitis can also lead to permanent vision loss.
The risk of infection and subsequent vision loss is significantly increased by sleeping in contact lenses, with estimates ranging from six to eight times the normal risk. This can lead to corneal damage, surgery, and, in rare cases, permanent vision loss. Therefore, it is essential to practice good contact lens hygiene and remove lenses before sleeping whenever possible.
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Frequently asked questions
Sleeping in your contact lenses can lead to a number of issues. You may wake up with irritated, inflamed, dry, painful, or red eyes. Leaving contacts in your eyes while you sleep puts you at substantial risk of getting eye infections such as microbial keratitis, which is the inflammation and infection of the cornea.
If you accidentally sleep in your contact lenses, do not panic. Examine them in the mirror, and if they are stuck, do not remove them. If they move easily, remove them and let your practitioner check them before wearing them again.
To prevent yourself from sleeping in your contact lenses, you can establish a routine, set reminders, use daily disposable lenses, and keep a backup pair of glasses.
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