Is It Safe to Sleep in Contacts? Eye Doctors Explain the Risks
Contact lenses come with particular directions for safe use even if they provide a quick and easy way to enhance vision. One crucial factor of this is if it is safe to sleep in contact. Even although some people may be tempted, eye doctors strongly advise against wearing most types of contact lenses overnight for convenience or due of a hectic lifestyle. Here we go in great detail the risks and elements to be considered while sleeping in contact lenses.
Different Kinds of Contact lenses
Understanding the many types of contact lenses available on the market enables one to value the risks before exploring them:
Made to be worn during the day, daily use lenses are removed before sleep. Usually made of elements that restrict enough oxygen from flowing through to the cornea upon closed eyelids, they cause issues.
Approved for a specified amount of days for constant wear—including midnight usage—Extended Wear Lenses Their architecture makes use of materials that allow more oxygen to reach the cornea, therefore reducing some of the risks associated with nighttime use.
Usually daily, biweekly, or monthly, disposable lenses are replaced and either daily or extended wear type can be used.
Sleeping with Contact Lenses: Safety Issues
1. Slowed Oxygen Availability
One of the most critical risks associated with sleeping in contact lenses is decreased oxygen flow to the cornea. The cornea, the front clear part of the eye, depends on air oxygen to remain healthy. Especially those not intended for extended use, contact lenses might impede the oxygen flow to the cornea.
The cornea receives significantly less oxygen while you sleep with lenses in since the eyelid closes over the lens creating a barrier. Lack of oxygen, or hypoxia, resulting from this can cause a range of issues including:
Reduced oxygen can cause the cornea to expand, therefore compromising vision and producing pain.
Lack of oxygen makes a more fit environment for germs and other infections, thereby increasing the risk of disorders including microbial keratitis.
2. Enhanced Eye Infection Risk
Wearing contact lenses overnight increases your risk of eye infections especially if they are not suited for long wear. In the closed environment of the eye, viruses, fungi, and bacteria find perfect habitat. Including disorders like:
A serious cornea infection known as microbial keratitis can cause pain, redness, and vision loss.
Usually brought on by bacteria or viruses, conjunctivitis—also known as pink eye—is an irritation of the eyelid’s lining.
3. Painful Dry Eyes
Contact lenses worn for extended periods could lead to dry eyes. Natural tear generation in the eye decreases during sleep, which can lead to dryness and discomfort when waking. Wearing contacts overnight can increase this dryness since the lenses could absorb the small tear film and induce discomfort.
4. Issues with lens content
Long wear contacts’ materials let more oxygen pass through them. Still, even these lenses can cause issues if worn for more than advised. Though they are not completely risk-free, incorrect use of them could cause issues as suggested by the manufacturer.
5. Difficulties in Problem Identification
If you sleep in contact lenses, you might not immediately feel uncomfortable or have problems with your eyes. More severe issues arising from this delayed identification could surface by the time you remove the lenses and see a doctor.
Safety Contact Lens Guidelines
Apply these guidelines to help lower the risks related to contact lens use:
- For the wear and replacement of your contact lenses, always follow the recommended schedule. Every night remove your regular use lenses. If they are prolonged use, find out from your eye doctor how long you could safely wear them continuously.
- Maintaining good hygiene entails washing your hands before handling lenses, using the proper lens solution, and cleaning your lenses and case as advised.
- See your eye doctor regularly to make sure your lenses are fitting and to search for any probable issues with your eye health.
- Take off your lenses right away and consult your eye doctor if you have redness, irritation, or vision disturbances while wearing them.
- Should you find it difficult to follow the recommended lens-wearing schedule, discuss additional options with your eye doctor. They could suggest daily disposables or other choices better fit for your style of life.
Generally Speaking
While certain contact lenses are designed for extended wear, sleeping in contact lenses usually poses serious risk. Among these dangers are less oxygen flow to the cornea, more eye infection risk, dryness and discomfort. Following prescribed contact lens use guidelines and visiting an eye doctor often will enable you to ensure the health and safety of your eyes. Following these recommendations will allow you to reduce any potential risks to your eye health and yet benefit from contact lenses.