Herbie Murray
Sleeping in your contact lenses can be harmful to your eyes. It can cause dry, sore, or red eyes, and in more severe cases, eye infections, corneal damage, and even permanent vision loss. This is because the cornea of your eye requires oxygen from the atmosphere, which dissolves in the tear film that coats your eye. When you sleep with contact lenses in, the lenses act as a barrier, blocking oxygen and nutrients from reaching the cornea. This can lead to infections or corneal ulcers, which can be vision-threatening and may require surgery to treat. Additionally, the lenses may become stuck to your cornea, and removing them forcefully can damage the cornea. Therefore, it is always recommended to remove contact lenses before sleeping and to consult an eye doctor if any issues arise.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Risk of eye infection | Six to eight times higher |
| Dry eyes | Common |
| Corneal damage | Possible |
| Eye redness | Common |
| Eye irritation | Common |
| Eye inflammation | Possible |
| Blurred vision | Possible |
| Corneal scarring | Possible |
| Vision loss | Possible |
| Corneal hypoxia | Possible |
| Conjunctivitis | Possible |
| Corneal ulcers | Possible |
| Eye trauma | Possible |
| Corneal nerve sensation decrease | Possible |
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What You'll Learn
Increased risk of eye infection
Sleeping in your contact lenses can have several adverse effects on your eye health, with an increased risk of eye infection being one of the most serious.
Firstly, it's important to note that contact lenses are classified as medical devices, and as such, they should only be worn as directed by an eye doctor. Sleeping with contacts in your eyes can substantially raise the risk of eye infection, in particular microbial keratitis, an inflammation and infection of the cornea. This condition is commonly caused by bacteria, but it can also be viral, fungal, or parasitic. Acanthamoeba keratitis, for example, is often associated with rinsing lenses in tap water or swimming in contacts. Fungal keratitis is also a risk, especially in regions with mild and tropical climates.
Contacts reduce the amount of oxygen and moisture your eyes can access. While you sleep, this decrease becomes even more severe, and your eyes naturally produce fewer tears. Without enough oxygen, a state called hypoxia, the cells in the cornea can be damaged, and the cornea may swell, leading to blurred vision. Depriving the cornea of oxygen also reduces its ability to regenerate cells, particularly on the outer edges, which protect the eyes from invaders. This allows bacteria to get into the deeper layers of the eye and cause infections.
Sleeping in contacts can increase the risk of eye infection by six to eight times, according to the CDC. These infections may result in corneal damage, surgery, and, in rare cases, loss of vision. Even a short nap of less than an hour can increase the risk of infection and discomfort. If you do fall asleep with contacts in, it's recommended to remove them as soon as possible and let your eyes recover for a day before wearing lenses again.
In addition to the risk of infection, sleeping in contacts can also cause dryness, soreness, redness, irritation, blurred vision, and potential damage to the corneal surface. Contacts can also become dislodged or stuck to the cornea during sleep, leading to discomfort and possible eye injuries.
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Dry, sore, or red eyes
Sleeping in your contact lenses can cause dry, sore, or red eyes. This is because your eyes produce fewer tears while you sleep, leading to dehydration and stickiness. This can cause discomfort and irritation, and even corneal damage when you remove the contacts. Blinking can help get the tears flowing again, and eye drops can also be used to lubricate the eyes.
Contact lenses can also get dislodged while you sleep, and your eyelids may trap the lenses in unusual positions. This can lead to scratches on your cornea or other injuries. Sleeping in contact lenses also increases the risk of eye infections, as the lenses block oxygen and hydration from reaching the cornea, creating an ideal environment for bacteria to multiply. This can lead to serious infections such as microbial keratitis, which can cause permanent corneal damage and even vision loss.
It is important to remove contact lenses before sleeping to avoid these issues. If you do 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 is crucial to maintaining eye health and preventing infections.
While it may be tempting to sleep in your contact lenses, the potential risks to eye health and vision are significant. It is always best to follow the directions of your eye doctor and take your contacts out before bed to ensure the health and safety of your eyes.
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Corneal damage
Sleeping in your contact lenses can lead to corneal damage in several ways. Firstly, contact lenses can get dislodged and stuck to your cornea while you sleep, and if you rip them off, you could damage your cornea. Secondly, contact lenses reduce the amount of oxygen and moisture your eyes can access, and during sleep, this decrease becomes even more severe, leading to a state of hypoxia. This oxygen deprivation can cause the epithelial cells of the cornea to deteriorate and die, increasing the risk of bacterial infections such as bacterial keratitis, which can result in corneal ulcers and permanent vision loss.
The cornea is the eye's clear, outer layer, and it requires oxygen from the air because it doesn't have any blood vessels. While you're awake, blinking keeps your eyes moist, and oxygen flows through the tears you produce. However, contacts significantly cut off this supply, and during sleep, your eyes produce fewer tears, worsening the condition.
The risk of corneal damage from sleeping in contact lenses is cumulative, meaning the risk increases the more you do it. Even with FDA-approved extended-wear contacts, you are still at a heightened risk of corneal ulcers and other issues.
If you do fall asleep with your contacts in, it's important to remove them as soon as possible and let your eyes recover for a day before wearing lenses again. To safely remove contacts that may be stuck to your cornea, you can use eye drops or saline solution to get the tears flowing again, allowing the contacts to separate from your cornea before removal.
Good contact lens hygiene is essential to avoid corneal damage and other eye health issues. This includes replacing your lenses and lens case regularly, using proper contact solution, and practising good habits like not rinsing your contacts in tap water or swimming with them.
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Potential for permanent vision loss
While sleeping in your contacts can have adverse effects on your eyes, the occurrence of permanent vision loss is rare. However, it is important to be aware of the potential risks and take the necessary precautions to avoid any damage to your eyes.
When you sleep with contact lenses in, your eyes can become dry, and the lenses may stick to your cornea. This can cause redness, irritation, and discomfort when you remove the lenses upon waking. More importantly, it increases your risk of eye infections, which can have severe consequences if left untreated.
The cornea, the front surface of your eye, requires adequate hydration and oxygen to function healthily. Contact lenses reduce the amount of oxygen and moisture your eyes can access, and this decrease becomes even more severe when you sleep. This oxygen deprivation, or hypoxia, can lead to swelling of the cornea, blurred vision, and an increased risk of bacterial or fungal infections.
Infections, if left untreated, can cause permanent scarring of the cornea and, in rare cases, lead to permanent vision loss. Serious eye infections may require surgery and can result in loss of vision. Additionally, corneal ulcers, tiny open wounds in the eye, can form due to bacterial invasion, causing lifelong vision damage if not treated promptly.
It is crucial to practice good contact lens hygiene and remove your lenses before sleeping whenever possible. If you accidentally fall asleep with your contacts in, remove them as soon as you can, and consider giving your eyes a break for the rest of the day. Consult an eye care professional if you experience any symptoms of infection or prolonged discomfort.
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Discomfort and irritation
Sleeping with your contact lenses in can cause a range of issues, from discomfort to eye infections. Here are some reasons why it's important to remove your contacts before sleeping:
When you sleep, your eyelids move, and this can cause the lenses to shift out of place or become stuck in unusual positions, especially if you rub your eyes in your sleep. This displacement can lead to a feeling of discomfort and irritation when you wake up. The lenses may also feel dry and sticky, and you might experience blurred vision. Additionally, the movement of the eyelids can put pressure on the surface of the eyes, potentially causing scratches or other injuries.
Contacts can absorb moisture from your eyes, leading to dryness, which is worsened during sleep as your eyes produce fewer tears. Dry eyes can cause further irritation and discomfort, and the removal of lenses after a night of sleep can be challenging and painful. Blinking and the use of eye drops can help rehydrate the eyes and facilitate lens removal.
Furthermore, sleeping with contacts can expose your eyes to any debris trapped beneath the lenses, potentially causing harm. This, along with the reduced oxygen supply to the cornea, can increase the risk of eye infections, with the CDC reporting that sleeping in contacts increases the risk of infection by six to eight times.
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Frequently asked questions
Even if you sleep in your contacts for a few minutes, an hour, or the entire night, you are still putting yourself at risk of eye infections such as microbial keratitis, corneal ulcers, and conjunctivitis.
Microbial keratitis is the inflammation and infection of the cornea, which can cause permanent scarring and vision loss.
Symptoms of an eye infection include redness, dryness, irritation, blurred vision, and persistent eye pain. If you experience any of these symptoms after sleeping in your contacts, consult an eye doctor as soon as possible.
If you accidentally sleep in your contacts, 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 eye doctor check them before wearing them again.
