We have all been there, but some more than others. You know that feeling of struggle you have after a long day to do even the simplest and basic tasks such as washing your face or brushing your teeth. Suffice to say. It can be a tough assignment. And if you are someone who has to wear contacts, taking them out before you get forty winks isn’t your top ten things to do.
Nevertheless, just like skipping out on brushing your teeth can damage your oral health, laser eye surgery doctors, particularly Doctor Moosa in Los Angeles, warn us that wearing contacts while you sleep can impair and injure your eyes.
Physicians, professors, medical specialists, optometrists, and LASIK specialists like those at Excel Laser Vision Institute in Los Angeles agree that no one should sleep in contact lenses. Although this is practically common sense – you shouldn’t sleep with contact lenses in; it just mistakenly happens. For instance, you “mistakenly” ate a dozen donuts or “mistakenly” maxed out your credit card on your recent Amazon shopping spree.
If you think this is just mere talk from the LASIK medical professionals in LASIK Los Angeles, think again. Some people go blind as a result of catching a few zzzz’s with their contact lenses. Therefore, if you or a loved one wears contact lenses, it would be a good idea to discover the possible risks. Keep on reading to get some more helpful information about this risky habit.
Contacts Prevent Oxygen From Going To Your Eyes
The LASIK eye center staff, specifically those at Excel Laser Vision Institute in Los Angeles, let us know that when our eyes are open, they get oxygen from the air, which, just like other bodily functions, is required to perform correctly. That means when you put in contacts, your eyes receive a little less oxygen. And when you close your eyes, the supply of oxygen decreases even further. This makes your eyes more susceptible to irritation and redness, which is responsible for impaired vision.
This deterioration of oxygen supply can also escalate your risk of getting bacterial or fungal infections, along with corneal ulcers.
How Bad Is It To Sleep In Contact Lenses?
If you want the truth from Doctor Moosa, a LASIK specialist in Los Angeles, it is incredibly hazardous to your eye health.
Without a doubt, the LASIK eye center surgeon will tell you that sleeping with your contacts is an awful idea.
Sometimes the only way to make people understand and give them a little motivation is with shock therapy. Here are some frightening problems that could happen if you fall asleep in your contacts:
You Could Get Pink Eye Sleeping In Contacts
A widespread eye problem to arise when you sleep with your contacts is conjunctivitis, better known as pink eye. Generally, this eye infection can also be caused by allergies or contact with someone else who is infected, but it is usually caused by wearing contacts overnight.
What is the reason for this? Sleeping in contacts can make your eyes more vulnerable to microscopic tears on the cornea and can triple your odds of bacteria, as well as fungi, getting in and staying in your eye for an extended period. If you want to prevent a severe case of pink eye, remove your contacts before you zonk out.
You Could Get An Eye Ulcer Sleeping In Contacts
If you sleep in contact lenses, you are at high risk of developing corneal ulcers. A recent study found that corneal ulcers are one of the leading causes of blindness around the globe. Fundamentally, a corneal ulcer is a tiny, open wound in your eye. As mentioned above, contact lenses are notorious for blocking your vision. Therefore, when your eyelids are shut during the night, your cornea is refused the necessary oxygen it needs. As a result, the perfect breathing ground of bacteria reigns over, causing a disruption in the epithelium, bringing about an ulcer.
Not getting treatment quickly can cause lifelong vision damage, so eye doctors strongly recommend that this condition should be treated immediately.
Severe Red Eye Could Happen If You Sleep In Your Contacts
If you nap in your contacts, you could be prone to an eye condition called CLARE, also known as Contact Lens Acute Red Eye. This eye condition brings symptoms such as light sensitivity, redness, tearing, and decreased vision. Some people also refer to it as Tight Lens Syndrome or Contact Lens Overwear Syndrome.
Although you probably can’t stand wearing glasses, which is most likely the reason you wear contacts, to begin with, you may want to change your frames at night, so you don’t forget to remove your contacts before hitting the hay.
Your Contacts Could Start To Fit Incorrectly
Wearing your contacts overnight or for long periods can lead to severe irritation causing bumps to form underneath your eyelids. Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) makes the inside of your eyelid red, swollen, and irritated. Individuals who wear contact lenses when they are sleeping have a high risk of experiencing this awful condition.
The bumps that come out when you have giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) make them fit improperly and are challenging to clear up. If you notice this happening to you, avoid wearing contacts for at least a week and see if your symptoms have eased off.
How To Lower Your Exposure To Contact Lens-Related Eye Infections
To lower the dangers of developing any awful symptoms or an eye infection, here are some sound principles of behavior to obey if you are a contact lens wearer.
Don’t reuse disposable contacts.
Never go to sleep in your contact lenses.
Remove your contacts before swimming.
Change disposable contact lenses frequently.
Don’t touch or rub your eyes with unclean hands.
Always use clean, sanitized hands when putting in/taking out your contacts.
Never share your contacts with anyone else.
Do not purchase fashion contact lenses.
Sadly, contacts cause headaches, so do your best to follow the guidelines above when wearing lenses. If you ever experience redness, light sensitivity, pain, decreased vision, or swelling while wearing your contacts, delicately remove them and contact your eye doctor.
