Is sleeping in contact lenses really that bad?

As someone who can’t see five feet ahead, I can personally attest that contact lenses are a blessing. They are comfortable when I force myself to engage in some form of physical activity, I see more smoothly than when I wear glasses, and I can indulge in interesting aesthetic perks (such as changing eye color).
Even with these benefits, it would be remiss not to discuss the maintenance required to use these little medical miracles. Wearing contact lenses requires a lot of care if you want to keep your eyes healthy: consider cleaning your lenses regularly, use the right saline solution, and always wash your hands before touching your eyes.
But there is one task that many contact lens wearers especially dread, and that often results in severe angle shrinkage: removing contact lenses before bed. Even as everyday lenses, which I throw away after wearing them all day, I still fall asleep with them late at night or after reading in bed – and I’m definitely not alone.

Colored Contacts For Dark Eyes

Colored Contacts For Dark Eyes
Despite the horror stories warning about this habit all over social media (remember when doctors found over 20 missing contact lenses behind women’s eyes?) or the graphic images of scratched corneas and oozing infections in the news (TV: These images are not for fainting). ), and sleeping with contact lenses is still very common. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about one-third of contact lens wearers sleep or take a nap while wearing lenses. So, it wouldn’t be so bad if so many people did it, right?
To resolve this dispute once and for all, we turned to optometrists to analyze whether it is really so bad to sleep in contact lenses, and what to do with the eyes while wearing them. What they say might make you rethink taking risks the next time you’re too tired to take your contact lenses off before bed, which has certainly helped me.
Short answer: No, it is not safe to sleep with a contact. “Sleeping in contact lenses is never a good idea because it increases the risk of corneal infection,” says Jennifer Tsai, optometrist and founder of eyewear brand LINE OF SIGHT. She explained that sleeping in contact lenses can lead to the growth of bacteria under the lenses, as in a petri dish.
Kristen Adams, an optometrist with Bay Area Eye Care, Inc., said that while some types of contact lenses are FDA approved for extended wear, including overnight wear, they are not necessarily suitable for everyone. According to the FDA, these long-wear contact lenses are made from a flexible plastic that allows oxygen to pass through the cornea into the cornea. You can wear these types of contact lenses for one to six nights or up to 30 days, depending on how they are made. If you want to learn more about these types of effects, talk to your doctor to see if they will work with your prescriptions and lifestyle.
The cornea is defined by the National Eye Institute (NEI) as the transparent outer layer at the front of the eye that helps you see clearly and needs oxygen to survive. Dr. Adams explained that when we open our eyes while we are awake, the cornea receives most of the oxygen. While contact lenses are completely safe when used properly, she says they can kill the normal amount of oxygen the cornea normally receives. And at night, when you close your eyes for long periods of time, your oxygen supply is reduced by a third of what is normal when you open your eyes. Even fewer eyes are covered by the contact, which causes problems.
“Sleeping with contact can, at best, lead to dry eyes. But at worst, a serious infection can develop in your cornea, which can lead to scarring or, in rare cases, loss of vision,” Dr. Chua warned. “When your eyelids are closed, contact lenses prevent oxygen from reaching the cornea. This can lead to a lack of oxygen or lack of oxygen, which can lead to the risk of eye redness, keratitis (or irritation) or infections such as ulcers.”

Colored Contacts For Dark Eyes

Colored Contacts For Dark Eyes
The eyes also need to be healthy in order to fight off the various harmful yet common bacteria that our eyes encounter every day. She explained that our eyes form a tear film, which is moisture containing antibacterial agents to kill bacteria. When you blink, you wash away particles that have accumulated on the surface of your eyes. Wearing contact lenses often interferes with this process, and when you wear contact lenses with your eyes closed, it makes it even harder to keep your eyes clean and healthy.
“Sleeping in contact lenses can lead to a lack of oxygen in the eyes, which reduces the healing and regeneration of the cells that make up the outermost layer of the cornea,” adds Dr. Adams. “These cells are an important part of protecting the eye from infection. If these cells are damaged, the bacteria can enter and invade the deeper layers of the cornea, causing an infection.”
What harm can an hour’s sleep actually do? Obviously a lot. Sleep seems harmless if you close your eyes for a little while, but Dr. Adams and Dr. Tsai still warn against sleeping with contact lenses, even for a little while. Dr. Adams explains that daytime naps also deprive the eyes of oxygen, which can lead to irritation, redness, and dryness. “Besides, we all know that naps can easily turn into hours,” added Dr. Tsai.
Maybe you accidentally fell asleep after playing Outlander or jumped into bed right after a night out. Hey it happened! Whatever the reason, at some point your contacts will fall asleep. But even if it’s risky, don’t panic.
You may have dry eyes the first time you wake up, Dr. Tsai says. Before removing the lenses, she recommends adding a bit of lubricant to make it easier to remove the lenses. Dr. Adams adds that you can try blinking a few times to allow tears to flow again when you remove the lens to moisten the lens, but the best option is to use eye drops. She says you should keep using the eye drops (about four to six times) throughout the day to keep your eyes moisturized.
Then you need to give your eyes a rest during the day so they can recover. Dr. Adams recommends wearing glasses (if you have them), and Dr. Kai advises to watch for signs of a potential infection, including redness, discharge, pain, blurred vision, excessive tearing, and sensitivity to light.
We determined that almost all sleepiness was gone. Unfortunately, there are other activities you can do while you are awake that are not suitable for wearing lenses. Never shower or wash your face upon contact, as this allows harmful particles to enter and may lead to infection.
The same goes for swimming, so be sure to prepare yourself before heading to the pool or beach, whether it’s an extra case for your lenses, a few extra lenses if you’re a casual wearer, or prescription sunglasses. Put it in your bag. .
The safest way to wear contact lenses is as prescribed by your doctor. Before putting on or taking off contact lenses, you should always wash your hands and make sure your hands are completely dry to avoid getting harmful particles into your eyes, says Dr. Adams. Always make sure your lenses are worn correctly for your comfort and follow the instructions for changing your contact lenses. It’s all about finding the right routine for you.
“Contact lenses are very safe if you follow the right treatment regimen,” explains Dr. Chua. When cleaning your lenses yourself, Dr. Chua recommends always using a cleaning solution. If they fit within your budget, she prefers daily contact lenses over weekly to reduce the risk of infection. To give your eyes a break from time to time, she also recommends wearing glasses.
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Post time: Sep-18-2022