If you wear contact lenses, you’ve probably dozed off while still wearing them at least once or twice. Maybe it was on a flight or simply at the end of a long day and you were too tired to make your way over to the bathroom to take them out before hitting the hay.
Waking up still wearing your lenses can be a little uncomfortable. Your eyes may feel dry and your lenses may have shifted, making it hard to see clearly. But discomfort aside, there are health-related reasons why ophthalmologists don’t recommend sleeping in your lenses. Keep reading to find out why and to see other common mistakes contact wears often make.
🩺 SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week 💊
What Happens If You Sleep With Your Contact Lenses In?
There are different types of contact lenses, including soft contact lenses (which allow oxygen to pass through the cornea), rigid gas permeable lenses (which are more durable and resistant to buildup) and extended wear contact lenses (marketed as being okay to wear overnight for up to about a week). Dr. Wuqaas M. Munir, MD, an ophthalmologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center, doesn’t recommend wearing any type of contact lenses while sleeping, even extended-wear lenses.
“While there are contact lenses that may be marketed as safe to sleep in overnight, the truth is that any contact lens can lead to problems when sleeping in. Therefore, it’s recommended to never sleep in contact lenses to avoid problems,” he says. Dr. Munir says that the only exception to this is if someone has medical lenses called orthokeratology lenses, which are designed to work overnight to help reduce nearsightedness, but he adds that these lenses are rare.
Related: The Common Habit That Could Be Damaging Your Eyes, According to Ophthalmologists
Dr. Ashley Brissette, MD, an ophthalmologist and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, says that the primary reason why it’s important to take contact lenses out before sleeping is to allow the eyes to get more oxygen than they do when someone is wearing their lenses. “Our eyes get their oxygen from the environment,” Dr. Brissette explained. “When lenses are worn overnight, they reduce the amount of oxygen that reaches the cornea, which can lead to dryness, irritation and an increased risk of infection.”
Both doctors emphasize that when the eyes don’t get enough oxygen, serious eye problems can occur. Dr. Munir says that in addition to eyes becoming dry, sleeping in contacts irritates the eyes, causing small scratches to the surface of the cornea during sleep. “Together, these factors greatly increase the risk of infection to the cornea, called keratitis or corneal ulcer,” he warned. “The eyes can also get dry causing redness, blurry vision, irritation and watering.”
Dr. Brissette explained that sleeping in lenses, particularly those not designed for extended wear, can create an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive. This, she says, can lead to the corneal ulcers Dr. Munir described, which can cause pain, blurred vision and, in severe cases, permanent vision loss and the need for surgical interventions.
Related: You’ve Heard About Carrots, but What Else? 7 Foods You Should Eat To Keep Your Eyes Healthy
Other Common Mistakes People Who Wear Contacts Make
So you definitely should take your contact lenses out before you go to sleep. But what if you don’t have your case and contact solution with you? Can you pour two cups or shot glasses with water and drop your lenses in there while you sleep? “Contact lenses should never be stored in tap water,” Dr. Munir emphasizes. Here’s why: Tap water does not match the fluid content of a person’s tears and can cause severe irritation, and, Dr. Munir adds, “More importantly, storing contacts in water greatly increases the risk of infection and also can lead to cornea infections from parasites.”
Dr. Brissette also issued a strong warning against storing lenses in regular H20. “Water contains microorganisms, including harmful bacteria and parasites, which can adhere to the lenses and cause severe eye infections,” she said. “One of the most dangerous infections associated with water exposure is Acanthamoeba keratitis, caused by the Acanthamoeba parasite. This microorganism is commonly found in water, soil and even air, and when it comes into contact with the cornea, especially through contaminated lenses, it can cause a painful, potentially sight-threatening infection.” Yikes!
Related: The Eyes Have It! 8 Things Your Eyes Can Reveal About Your Overall Health
If you have daily lenses (meant to be worn during the day and then thrown away before bed), you may wonder if you can stretch their use, taking them out at night but wearing them again the next day. Both doctors warn against this cost-saving tactic. Dr. Brissette explains that the thin material that daily lenses are made of isn’t designed to withstand the buildup of multiple uses.
“Reusing daily lenses can lead to the buildup of protein deposits, bacteria and other debris, which can irritate the eyes, cause dryness and increase the risk of infection, including eye conditions like conjunctivitis (pink eye) or corneal ulcers,” she says, adding that they can rip and tear leaving microplastics on the surface of the eye which can lead to abrasions and scratches, which are extremely painful. With that in mind, consider this a PSA to wear your daily lenses one time only.
If you find yourself making mistakes like these often, Dr. Brissette says to consider a vision correction procedure. “We have so many ways now to get you out of contacts, which do come with risk of infection and dry eye. There are lasers like Lasik or Smile, but also EVO which is a revolutionary way to fix vision. It’s like a contact lens inside the eye and one of my favorite surgeries to do because the vision results are incredible,” she says. If any of these options sound interesting to you, talk to your eye doctor.
When you’re super tired, it may be tempting to sleep in your lenses instead of taking the time to take them out, but it’s a bad habit to get into and can seriously damage your eyes. Take your lenses out and you’ll rest easier knowing your vision is protected.
Up Next:
Related: 5 Ways to Keep Your Eyes Healthy Every Day
Sources
- Dr. Wuqaas M. Munir, MD, ophthalmologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center
- Dr. Ashley Brissette, MD, ophthalmologist and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology
