Does Sleeping While Wearing Contact Lenses Increase The Risk Of Infections? Read On To Know More

Most individuals are struggling with vision problems, and doctors have discovered several ways to make it better. Sleeping in contact lenses increases the risk of infection because your cornea needs oxygen and hydration to work properly. Whilst you’re awake, your eyes are kept moist through blinking and through the tears you produce, oxygen can flow. Contacts are placed on the surface of your eye, and that cuts the amount of oxygen and moisture that your eyes can get. When sleeping, it becomes worse because the cells in your cornea lose their ability to fight bacteria potently. Read about the different infections that can develop when you sleep wearing your contacts.  

What infections can develop when you sleep wearing contact lenses? Let’s find out.

Bacterial keratitis- It is a cornea infection caused by low oxygen and moist surroundings that lures in bacteria and lowers the cornea’s ability to fight off bacteria. It makes it easy for germs to form biofilms and grow. This overwhelms the eye’s surface and causes ulcers, inflammation and vision loss. Sleeping with contact lenses deprives the cornea of fresh oxygen and tears because you’ll not be blinking. All this minimizes the ability of the cornea to fight off infections. 

Acanthamoeba keratitis- The main cause of this infection is the amoeba, which is usually found in water spaces like hot tubs, tap water, lakes, rivers and swimming pools. Rinsing your contacts in any of these water sources and then sleeping on them is very dangerous. You are at risk because your contacts block oxygen, and that weakens your cornea’s defence. It also traps microbes like Acanthamoeba against the surface, and that reduces the flow of your tears. This allows the amoeba to multiply and have access to the corneal tissue that is oxygen-deprived. This causes vision loss and painful infection. 

Fungal Keratitis- It is mostly common in places with tropical weather and mild temperatures. People who usually get infected by fungal keratitis are those who have experienced trauma to their eyes from a plant, stick or branch. This infection is caused by microorganisms like fungi, bacteria and parasites being trapped, causing a low oxygen and moist environment in the cornea. The eye reduces its ability to clean itself with tears, and that leads to inflammation, damage, scarring of the eye and vision loss. 

Conclusion

From the above-mentioned points, it is demonstrated clearly that sleeping while wearing contact lenses can increase the risks of infection because when you’re sleeping, your contacts stop your eyes from getting the oxygen and hydration they need to fight bacteria and infections. If you have been sleeping in contact lenses, you can visit Mitra Eye Hospital and Lasik Laser Centre, where we provide the necessary eye care facilities at affordable costs. Our procedures, techniques and technologies are advanced and effective. Dr. H. Mitra has provided a place for us to treat and take care of your eyes. 

FAQs

1. What if I sleep in my contacts accidently for one night?

A: If you fall asleep in your contacts by accident, remove the contacts as soon as you can. If you can’t remove them, place several drops of sterile artificial eyedrop in your eyes and wait for 5-10 minutes before you can remove the contacts.

2. What are the signs that I have an eye infection?

A: Redness, blurred vision and excessive watering and discharge from the eyes. 

3. Can I swim and bathe wearing my contacts?

A: No, you can not swim and bathe in your contacts because water introduces infections.