Buzz
By Rachel Nussbaum
We’re all aware that sleeping in contacts isn’t ideal, but just like “accidentally” indulging in expired pesto or “accidentally” squeezing a pimple, it sometimes occurs. Late evenings happen. Quick naps happen.
However, after coming across stories of individuals losing their vision due to this habit, we grew concerned. After consulting experts and digging deeper, we discovered there’s legitimate cause for alarm.
THE DETAILED BREAKDOWN
Here’s the science behind it: The cornea, being the body’s only transparent tissue, relies entirely on air for oxygen. Wearing contact lenses reduces this oxygen supply slightly, and closing your eyes further diminishes it. Combining these two factors can critically deplete oxygen levels, explains Kerry Assil, M.D., an eye surgeon at the Assil Eye Institute in Los Angeles.
When oxygen is scarce, the cornea swells—not to an extreme degree, but enough to create gaps between the surface cells. These gaps allow bacteria to infiltrate, increasing the risk of eye infections by nearly seven times, according to Thomas Steinemann, M.D., a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The eye’s lack of robust immune protection means infections can escalate rapidly.
To make matters worse, contact lenses can act like a Petri dish, notes James Auran, M.D., a professor of ophthalmology at Columbia University. If bacteria are present on your lenses—often due to an old or dirty lens case—they’re pressed directly against your eye, creating a perfect environment for infection.
While a 15-minute nap might seem harmless, Assil compares it to playing Russian Roulette or navigating a minefield. Corneal swelling starts the moment your eyes close and worsens over time. The longer you sleep—whether it’s eight hours or 15 minutes—the greater the risk becomes.
Long-term contact lens wear during sleep also harms your eyes. With approximately 3 million blinks per year, each blink against the lenses causes minor abrasions, Assil explains. Over time, the inner lining of the eyelid roughens from constant friction, reducing its ability to lubricate the eye effectively. Combined with the inflammation from overnight lens wear, this creates a compounding issue.
According to Assil, this means nearly everyone is likely to experience drier eyes, heightened allergy sensitivity, and a greater susceptibility to infections. Those who sleep in their contacts further increase the risk of eventually being unable to wear lenses altogether. The "shocked" emoji perfectly captures the severity of this situation.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Taking an extra 30 seconds to remove your contacts before a nap is a small but crucial step—and it’s equally important to avoid sleeping in them whenever possible. Consult your doctor about FDA-approved lenses designed for overnight use if needed. If you find yourself in situations where sleeping in lenses is unavoidable (long flights, impromptu sleepovers, etc.), Auran advises drenching your eyes with drops as soon as you wake up. Avoid touching your contacts until then, as forcefully removing a stuck lens can scratch your cornea, causing lasting harm on top of the damage from sleeping in them.
This article originally appeared on Greatist.com.
