Sleeping with contact lenses

The vast majority of prescribed contact lenses are for daily use, which means it is necessary to remove the lenses from the eyes before bedtime.

It is likely that even the most careful contact leans wearers have fallen asleep with their contact lenses for a short nap, or even overnight. Problems are rare when sleeping with contact lenses for a short period of time, however, this does not mean that you should get into the habit of occasionally sleeping with your contact lenses. 

The eyes need oxygen.  This process is aided by blinking, because when the eyelids blink, the contact lenses moves around 1mm, which helps keep the cornea naturally moist. When we are sleeping, the eyes are closed, which dry the eyes are permanently closed and if the contact lenses are placed it greatly facilitates their adhesion to the cornea (there is a risk of the contact lenses sticking together), in addition to lack of oxygenation being a major cause of the development of corneal ulcers that contributes to a decreased vision.

Repeating this behavior or sleeping deliberately with contact lenses that are not intended to be used for such exposes the eyes to a high health risk. If you are a forgotten person who often falls asleep with your lenses for daily or extended use, 24-hour lenses may be the best option.

If you fall asleep with the contact lenses in place, you will wake up both with your eyes and with very dry contact lenses. The eyes may become red and irritated, and sometimes you may experience pain and hypersensitivity to light. How much your eyes will hurt also depends on what the condition of the contact lenses was when you fell asleep. Sleeping with regular contact lenses is not recommended as this can reduce oxygenation to the surface of the eye. When we are awake, the cornea receives oxygen from the air and is lubricated with the blink of the eyelids. However, when we sleep and stop blinking, the cornea receives oxygen from the blood vessels of the eyelids. When wearing a contact lens while you sleep, the supply of oxygen to the eyes will decrease even more because the contact lenses act as a physical barrier. This can cause contact lenses to dry and contract in the eyes, which in turn may result in damage to the cornea. The combination of the closed eyelid with reduced movement of the eye and eyelid almost completely reduces the supply of oxygen and creates ideal conditions for the growth of bacterial and viral infections. Sleeping with placed contact lenses with few negative effects on the eyes depends on several factors. These factors are related to the material of the contact lens, the thickness of the lens, the duration of sleeping time and depends not only on the amount of oxygen reaching the cornea but also on the composition of the tears, the amount of contact lens dehydration and the exchange of tears under the contact lenses.

Just because a contact lens has been approved for prolonged use does not guarantee that sleeping with the placed contact lenses will not bring harmful effects to the eyes.

It is important before opting to sleep with contact lenses to consult your vision professional first.

During the day, air pollution comes in contact with contact lenses and therefore with the eyes, so if you wear lenses for a whole day and / or spent time in a dusty or dirty environment, the contact lenses will have gathered enough microorganisms. It is important to remove contact lenses (always wash hands thoroughly before removing lenses) at the end of the day and proceed with long-term contact lenses for cleaning and maintenance. Another situation that can happen during sleep has to do with the lens itself which due to the little lubrication can get dry and tighten the eye, which can result in small tears in the contact lens, tears in the cornea (the front surface of the eye) or inflict abrasions microscopes on the eye. This may increase the risk of eye infection, inflammation or abrasions, and in extreme cases leads to gradual loss of vision. Contact lenses may also be difficult to remove when placed for a longer period of time than recommended, as they may become dry and stick to the eyes.

If this is the case, it is important to remain calm and DO NOT attempt to remove contact lenses with violence. Instead, use eye drops (eye-drops are liquids that serve to treat eye problems such as eye discomfort, dryness or allergy to dust, etc.) and let them work for a long period of time so that the lenses have absorbed the fluid and become soft again, so it will be easier to remove them from the in the usual way.  You may also try a contact lens inserter/remover (we have them in stock).

In this situation, it is recommended to wear glasses for one or two days, rather than contact lenses, so that your eyes are adequately rested.

During sleep, the cornea is lubricated through tears and a gelatinous liquid called aqueous humor. The aqueous humor is a colorless liquid, consisting of water (98%) and dissolved salts (2%) - predominantly sodium chloride. Silicone hydrogel is the material used on daily lenses. This material is unique in that it allows the passage of oxygen much more to the eye than long lasting lenses. Daily contact lenses often come with specially developed moisturizing properties that also result in very high wearing comfort, the lenses are so comfortable that you will hardly notice that they have them. These are the right lenses for those looking for ideal comfort. 24-hour contact lenses are also a good option for those with dry eyes and difficulty wearing regular day lenses or monthly lenses.

Interlenses does not advice to sleep with contact lenses in place, if you are swallowed or have respiratory problems. But if this is your intention you should consult your vision professional.