Evie Summers
Sleeping with contact lenses in your eyes can lead to a number of issues. Firstly, it can cause eye dryness, soreness, and redness, as contact lenses absorb moisture from your eyes. Secondly, eyelids moving during sleep can cause lenses to shift and get stuck, leading to irritation, scratches, and other injuries. Most importantly, wearing contacts overnight increases the risk of eye infections by six to eight times, with or without lenses approved by the FDA for sleep. This is because contacts trap bacteria and microbes, providing an ideal environment for them to multiply, leading to infections such as microbial keratitis, conjunctivitis, and corneal ulcers. In severe cases, these infections can result in permanent vision loss. Therefore, it is always best to take your contacts out before bed and consult an eye doctor if any issues arise.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Risk of eye infection | Microbial keratitis, conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers, corneal hypoxia, corneal damage, permanent vision loss, blurred vision, corneal scarring, corneal nerve sensation loss |
| Dry eyes | Dehydration, decreased tear production |
| Irritation | Inflammation, redness, discomfort |
| Trapped debris | Trapped microbes, bacteria, and other microorganisms |
| Displacement | Lenses may shift out of place, get stuck, or trap the eyelids |
| Corneal issues | Corneal hypoxia, corneal damage, corneal swelling, reduced cell regeneration, corneal trauma |
| Other | Light sensitivity, eye pain, blurry vision |
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What You'll Learn
Increased risk of eye infection
Sleeping with contact lenses in your eyes can have several adverse effects, one of which is an increased risk of eye infections. This risk is present even if you sleep for a few minutes, an hour, or the entire night.
Firstly, contact lenses can trap microbes and bacteria from the lenses or the surroundings. The lenses then act as an incubator for bacteria, as they block oxygen and nutrients from reaching the cornea. This creates an ideal environment for bacteria to multiply overnight. Depriving the cornea of oxygen may also cause it to swell, increasing the ability of bacteria to enter the deeper layers of the eye and cause infections.
Secondly, the eyelids move during sleep, putting pressure on the surface of the eyes. This can cause the lenses to shift out of place and get dislodged or stuck. The eyelids can trap the lenses in unusual positions, especially if you rub your eyes while sleeping. This displacement can lead to scratches or other injuries to the eye, increasing the risk of infections.
Thirdly, contact lenses can absorb moisture from the eyes, leading to dryness. This condition can worsen when sleeping with contact lenses as the eyes produce fewer tears during sleep. Dry eyes can make it easier for bacteria to enter and cause infections.
The risk of developing an eye infection from sleeping with contact lenses is significant. Studies have shown that wearing contacts overnight increases the risk of microbial keratitis by more than five times, regardless of the lens type. Additionally, the CDC reports that sleeping with contacts increases the risk of acquiring an infection by six to eight times.
Other types of eye infections that you may be at risk of developing include conjunctivitis (pink eye), corneal ulcers, and corneal hypoxia (when the cornea does not get enough oxygen). In severe cases, eye infections caused by sleeping with contact lenses can result in permanent vision loss.
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Dry, sore, or red eyes
When you sleep with contact lenses in, you may wake up to find them dehydrated and stuck to your corneas. It is important not to rip them out, as this could damage the cornea. Instead, blinking can help get the tears flowing again, separating the contacts from your corneas. Alternatively, you can put a few drops of saline or eye drops into your eyes, and blink until the contacts feel normal again.
Your eyes need oxygen to stay healthy and work properly. During the day, your eyes pull oxygen from the air, but at night, they obtain it from the blood vessels in your eyelids. When you sleep with contact lenses in, your corneas are deprived of oxygen, which may cause them to swell, leading to irritation, blurred vision, or an infection.
Sleeping with contact lenses can also cause corneal hypoxia, a condition in which the cornea does not get enough oxygen. This can lead to corneal ulcers, where an open sore forms on the cornea. This painful condition can cause significant vision impairment or even permanent vision loss if not treated quickly and appropriately.
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Corneal damage
Sleeping with contact lenses can cause corneal damage in several ways. Firstly, contact lenses can absorb moisture from the eyes, leading to dryness. This condition is exacerbated during sleep as eyes produce fewer tears, resulting in irritation, discomfort, and potential damage to the corneal surface.
Secondly, corneal hypoxia, a condition caused by insufficient oxygen reaching the cornea, can occur. The cornea, the transparent front part of the eye, requires a certain amount of oxygen to stay healthy and function properly. Contact lenses significantly reduce the amount of oxygen the eyes can access, and this decrease becomes more severe during sleep. Corneal hypoxia can cause blurry vision, light sensitivity, eye fatigue, pain, and discomfort.
Thirdly, corneal infections, or microbial keratitis, can develop due to contact lenses trapping microorganisms against the cornea, providing an ideal environment for their growth. This can lead to serious adverse health outcomes, including permanent eye damage and possible vision loss. Infections may require surgical intervention and frequent administration of antibiotic eye drops.
Additionally, sleeping with contact lenses can increase the risk of corneal ulcers, where open sores form on the cornea. This painful condition can cause significant vision impairment or even permanent vision loss if not treated promptly and appropriately.
It is important to note that these risks are heightened with regular or frequent occurrences of sleeping with contact lenses. Even occasional instances can lead to adverse effects, especially if proper contact lens hygiene is not maintained.
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Potential permanent vision loss
Sleeping with contact lenses can have severe consequences for your eye health and vision. It is important to note that contact lenses are classified as medical devices and should only be used according to your eye doctor’s directions.
When you sleep with contact lenses in, your eyelids move, putting pressure on your eyes' surface. This can cause the lenses to shift out of place and get stuck to your cornea. This displacement can lead to scratches or other injuries to your eye. Contact lenses can also absorb the moisture in your eyes, leading to dryness, which can worsen overnight as your eyes produce fewer tears during sleep.
The lack of oxygen and moisture creates an environment where bacteria and microorganisms can thrive, increasing the risk of eye infections such as microbial keratitis, corneal ulcers, and corneal hypoxia. Microbial keratitis is a severe and potentially sight-threatening cornea infection caused by bacteria, fungi, or amoebas. Corneal ulcers are open sores on the cornea that can cause significant vision impairment or even permanent vision loss if not treated quickly and appropriately.
In addition to the risk of infection, sleeping with contact lenses can also cause corneal damage due to oxygen deprivation. The cornea needs oxygen and hydration to stay healthy and function properly. When you sleep with contact lenses, the lenses block oxygen and nutrients from reaching the cornea, inhibiting its ability to regenerate cells and protect your eyes from invaders. This can lead to permanent corneal damage and even permanent vision loss.
While it may not always be possible to avoid falling asleep with contact lenses, it is important to remove them as soon as possible upon waking and to let your eyes recover for a day before wearing lenses again. Good contact lens hygiene and regular eye exams are critical to keeping your eyes healthy and reducing the risk of permanent vision loss.
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Irritation and discomfort
Sleeping with contact lenses can cause eye irritation and discomfort. The eyelids move during sleep, putting pressure on the surface of the eyes and causing the lenses to shift out of place. This can lead to the lenses becoming dislodged or stuck in unusual positions, resulting in scratches or other injuries to the eyes.
Contact lenses can also absorb moisture from the eyes, leading to dryness. This condition can be exacerbated when sleeping with contact lenses as the eyes produce fewer tears during sleep. Dry, sore, or red eyes are common consequences of sleeping with contact lenses.
Additionally, contact lenses can trap microbes and bacteria, creating an environment for them to multiply. This can lead to serious eye infections, such as microbial keratitis, an infection of the cornea. In some cases, these infections can result in corneal damage, surgery, and even permanent vision loss.
It is important to remove contact lenses before sleeping to prevent these issues. If lenses become stuck, it is recommended to blink and use eye drops to rehydrate the eyes before attempting removal.
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Frequently asked questions
First, check that you can easily remove them. If they feel stuck, do not pull at them. Instead, use eye drops and blink until they are easy to remove. Then, give your eyes a break. Avoid wearing contacts for at least a day and pay close attention to how your eyes feel.
Sleeping with contacts in can lead to dryness and irritation in the eyes. It also increases the risk of eye infections by six to eight times. This can lead to corneal damage or even permanent vision loss.
Common signs of an eye infection include redness, dryness, irritation, and persistent eye pain. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult an eye doctor as soon as possible.
