It's a question that many nappers ask. According to optometrists, sleeping while wearing contact lenses is not a good idea. Even sleeping with your contacts can cause discomfort or harm.
Your corneas just do not get the oxygen they will need to battle microbes when you take a nap with your lenses in. This can cause infection and some other severe eye health problems. That is why it's imperative to pick your case and remove the lenses before you go to bed.
4 Facts About Contact Lens Wearers
- Researchers examined 1,618 contact lens-wearing people aged 12–17 years and discovered that 85% of them had one dangerous contact lens pattern.
- Just 44% of them see their eye specialist once a year. And if you are one of those who do not go to their doctor regularly, click here to book an appointment if you are in Orlando, Fl.
- 30% of people sleep with the lenses in, increasing the chance of infection by six times.
- Although lenses are highly prone to pathogenic microorganisms, 27 percent keep them in when swimming.
What happens if you sleep with your lenses in?
If your lenses aren't designed for overnight or prolonged use, you risk damaging your eyes when you nap with them on. It's essential to try to take out your lenses before going to bed. Sleeping in lenses can cause a number of problems, ranging from mild discomfort to severe infections.
Dry and gritty Eyes
When you sleep with the lenses in, you can notice dry, red, and sticky eyes when you wake up. When you first open up your eyes, you can see mild pain and swelling and a crumbly buildup all-around the eye, especially along the lashes.
What do I do if I forget to remove my contact lenses before going to bed?
Of course, wearing contact lenses overnight is not ideal, but if this is the case, we suggest that you consider these guidelines:
- Even though the contact lens is really painful, do not detach it right away when you wake up.
- Blink often enough to keep the lens moisturized and softened by the tear fluid.
- If the lens still doesn’t come off, try putting some moisture drops in your eye. To hydrate your eyes, you can use a lens solution or water.
- You should carefully remove the lens when it softens enough.
- Postpone the application of new contact & prefer using your glasses.
- If you don't feel better after a few hours, see an eye doctor right away.
- Is this something that happens to you frequently?
Are there any lenses that you can wear while sleeping?
If you want to wear your lenses while sleeping, choose extended wear lenses. They allow you to use your contacts for more extended periods without removing them, even while you are asleep.
This is especially important for those who live busy lives and don't have time to regularly wash and disinfect the contacts.
It is necessary to discuss whether extended wear contacts are appropriate for you with your eye doctor and that you use them under a trained optometrist’s guidance. Check the condition of the eyes for clinical symptoms of infections.
