Can I Sleep With My Contacts in?
Sunday, August 15th, 2021, 3:18 am
When you have worn contacts for a long time, it starts to get annoying taking them out every night and then putting them back in again every morning. Sure, it really doesn’t take a lot of time, but you may start to wonder if it would really hurt to sleep with them in and if you have to bother taking them out. LASIK surgery is a great option so you don’t have to worry about dealing with your contacts all the time – but for now, if you are a contact wearer, here are some things you should know about sleeping while wearing contacts.
Sleeping in contacts: Yes or no
The short answer is “no,” you should not sleep in your contacts. Even though there are some contacts that are approved for overnight use, it is still preferable to remove them before you go to sleep.
When you are awake, your eyes get plenty of oxygen and moisture, which helps them to stay healthy by removing any bacteria. When you sleep, your eyes aren’t getting much oxygen or moisture, and having contacts on your eyes as you sleep reduces oxygen and moisture even more. This gives bacteria the opportunity to gather, and a lot of bacteria increases the risk of infection.
What if I accidentally fall asleep with my contacts in?
Most people who wear contacts have fallen asleep with their contacts in at one time or another. If you do, take them out as soon as you can. Leave them out for at least a day and watch out for any signs of infection, including discharge, redness, blurred vision, and excessive watering of the eyes.
You should call your doctor right away if you think you might have an eye infection. You may be prescribed medicated eye drops to use. If left untreated, an infection may permanently affect eyes, and in the worst case scenario it can lead to blindness.
If you are having any eye issues, or if you are tired of wearing contacts and you’re considering LASIK, Marion Eye Center and Optical can help! Call us in Illinois at 800-344-7058, or in Missouri, at 877-269-4545.
Category: contact lenses
