Miya Pearson
Sleeping with contact lenses in your eyes can lead to a number of issues. While it may seem harmless, doing so can increase your risk of eye infections, redness, irritation, and permanent damage to your cornea. This is because contact lenses reduce the oxygen supply to your cornea, impairing its ability to protect itself from microorganisms. Infections such as microbial keratitis, bacterial keratitis, and fungal keratitis can occur, and in serious cases, can lead to corneal damage, surgery, and even vision loss. Therefore, it is recommended to remove contact lenses before sleeping and to practice good contact lens hygiene to protect your eyes from infection.
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What You'll Learn
Increased risk of eye infection
Sleeping with contact lenses can increase the risk of eye infections by six to eight times, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is because the eye receives less oxygen during sleep, and contact lenses further inhibit oxygen flow, sometimes leading to a condition called hypoxia. This oxygen deprivation can cause the cornea to swell, resulting in irritation, blurred vision, and an increased risk of infection.
The eye's immune system usually plays a protective role, but when there is a buildup of debris, the immune system may not recognize the irritant and can sometimes respond by damaging the surrounding tissue. Contact lenses can also trap microbes and bacteria, creating an optimal environment for them to multiply overnight. This can lead to various infections, including bacterial and microbial keratitis, which can cause permanent scarring and vision loss.
Acanthamoeba keratitis, a microbial eye infection, often occurs alongside bacterial keratitis. This condition requires a long regimen of medicated eye drops, and if this treatment is unsuccessful, surgery may be required. Fungal keratitis is another potential infection, which is most common in regions with mild and tropical weather. This infection can cause blindness if left untreated.
It is important to note that even a short nap with contact lenses in can increase the risk of infection and discomfort in the eyes. If you accidentally fall asleep with your contacts in, it is recommended to remove them as soon as possible and let your eyes recover for a day before wearing lenses again. Good contact lens hygiene and regular eye exams are crucial to maintaining eye health.
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Oxygen deprivation
Oxygen is essential for keeping the eyes clear and healthy. While you are awake, blinking keeps your eyes moist, and oxygen can flow in through the tears you produce. Contact lenses, however, act as a barrier, reducing the amount of oxygen and moisture your eyes can access. This barrier becomes even more severe when you are asleep, as your eyes are closed, and you are not blinking.
The cornea of your eye relies on oxygen from the atmosphere, which dissolves in the tear film that coats your eye. When there isn't enough oxygen supply, corneal cells can get damaged, leading to various symptoms and complications. This state of oxygen deprivation is called hypoxia. Hypoxia can cause the cornea to develop tiny blood vessels that grow onto the cornea, damaging it by causing persistent inflammation, irritation, and scarring, which can potentially lead to vision loss.
Additionally, when you sleep with contact lenses in, you are trapping microbes and bacteria from the lenses or your surroundings, creating an ideal environment for them to multiply overnight. This can lead to various infections, such as microbial keratitis, which is the inflammation and infection of the cornea. These infections can cause serious damage, including corneal ulcers, conjunctivitis, and permanent vision loss.
If you accidentally fall asleep with your contact lenses in, it is important to remove them as soon as possible and allow your eyes to recover for at least a day before wearing lenses again. You can apply eye drops to help rehydrate your eyes and blink to get the tears flowing again, making it easier to remove the lenses.
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Corneal damage
Sleeping with contact lenses can lead to corneal damage. The cornea, the transparent front part of the eye, relies on oxygen from the atmosphere, which dissolves in the tear film that coats the eye. When a person is awake, blinking keeps the eyes moist, and oxygen can flow in through the tears produced. However, when asleep, the eyes produce fewer tears, and contact lenses act as a barrier, severely reducing the oxygen supply to the cornea, a condition known as corneal hypoxia.
Corneal hypoxia can lead to corneal scarring, causing blurred vision, light sensitivity, eye fatigue, pain, and discomfort. The reduced oxygen supply also impairs the cornea's ability to regenerate cells, particularly on its outer edges, making it more vulnerable to bacterial infections. This can lead to serious eye infections such as bacterial keratitis, which can result in permanent vision loss if left untreated.
In addition to oxygen deprivation, sleeping with contact lenses can also lead to corneal damage due to dryness and dehydration. The lenses can absorb moisture from the eyes, causing dryness, irritation, and discomfort. This condition can worsen overnight as the eyes produce fewer tears during sleep. Dry eyes can potentially damage the corneal surface and increase the risk of corneal ulcers, which are open sores on the cornea.
To prevent corneal damage, it is essential to remove contact lenses before sleeping and ensure proper contact lens hygiene. If lenses are stuck to the cornea due to dehydration, it is recommended to gently massage the eyes to stimulate moisture production and nudge the lenses out. Applying a few drops of saline or artificial tears can also help loosen the lenses before removal. It is advised to let the eyes rest and recover for at least a day before wearing contact lenses again.
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Redness and irritation
Sleeping with contact lenses in your eyes can lead to a number of issues, including redness and irritation. When you sleep, your eyes are closed, reducing the amount of oxygen available to the cornea. Contact lenses act as an additional barrier to oxygen, and this oxygen deprivation can cause the cornea to swell, leading to irritation, blurred vision, or an infection.
The cornea needs oxygen to regenerate cells on its outer edges, which protect the eyes from bacteria and other invaders. By sleeping with contact lenses, you increase the risk of bacteria entering the deeper layers of the eye and causing infections. This can result in corneal damage or even permanent vision loss.
Contact lens-induced acute red eye (CLARE) is a common condition that occurs from a lack of oxygen to the eye. It is characterised by eye pain, redness, and light sensitivity. CLARE is found more commonly in people who take long naps or sleep in their contact lenses. Treatment may involve not wearing contact lenses until the condition resolves, and in some cases, steroid or antibiotic eye drops may be necessary.
In addition to CLARE, sleeping with contact lenses can also lead to dry eye syndrome, causing redness, itchiness, and discomfort. This can be treated with over-the-counter lubricating eye drops, lifestyle changes, and avoiding triggers such as smoke, fumes, pollen, and pet dander.
It is important to note that even sleep-approved contact lenses do not completely eliminate the risk of infection or irritation. Eye doctors recommend leaving these lenses out overnight at least once a week to give your eyes a rest and reduce the risk of irritation and infection. If you experience redness, irritation, or eye pain after sleeping with contact lenses, it is best to consult an eye doctor immediately.
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Potential for permanent vision loss
While sleeping with contact lenses in your eyes may not seem like a big deal, it can have serious consequences for your eye health. One of the main risks is the potential for permanent vision loss.
When you sleep with contact lenses in, you significantly reduce the amount of oxygen your eyes receive. This oxygen is crucial for keeping the cornea healthy. Without enough oxygen, a condition called hypoxia can occur, leading to corneal damage. The cornea may swell, causing irritation, blurred vision, and an increased risk of infection.
Infections, such as bacterial and microbial keratitis, can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated. Bacterial keratitis is caused by bacteria commonly found on the human body and in the environment. Microbial keratitis is often associated with poor contact lens hygiene, such as rinsing lenses in tap water or swimming with them. These infections can cause corneal scarring, which can impair vision.
Additionally, sleeping with contact lenses can trap microbes and bacteria, providing an optimal environment for them to multiply. This increases the risk of serious infections, which may require surgery to treat. Furthermore, the contact lens can act as an incubator for bacteria, further elevating the risk of infection and potential vision loss.
While it is uncommon, with an estimated annual incidence of bacterial keratitis affecting only four out of 10,000 contact lens wearers, the risk is still significant. It is important to note that even a single incident of sleeping with contact lenses can have adverse effects, and continued eye exams are crucial to monitor eye health.
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Frequently asked questions
Don't panic. Examine them in the mirror, and if they are stuck, don't remove them. If they move easily, take them out and let your practitioner check them before wearing them again. You can also apply eye drops to help with lubrication.
Sleeping with contacts in can cut off the oxygen your eyes need, leading to corneal damage, blurred vision, irritation, and redness. It also increases the risk of eye infections by six to eight times, which may result in permanent vision loss.
Symptoms of an eye infection include redness, irritation, sensitivity to light, tearing, and blurred vision. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult an eye doctor immediately.
