Falling asleep while wearing glasses is a common experience, whether during a short nap or after a long day of reading in bed. This oversight carries immediate consequences for both the glasses and the person wearing them. Eyewear is not designed to withstand the pressure and movement of sleep. The following sections detail the specific effects this has on the wearer’s skin, the structural integrity of the glasses, and ocular health.
Physical Effects on the Face and Skin
The most immediate consequence of sleeping with glasses on is the development of pressure marks on the face where the frames rest. These indentations appear most frequently on the bridge of the nose and the sides of the temples due to sustained compression against the pillow or mattress. The constant force can restrict superficial blood flow, leading to temporary redness and soreness in the affected areas.
Discomfort often extends to the skin behind the ears where the arms of the frames hook over the ear, causing tenderness or mild pain. Sleeping in an awkward position to accommodate the frames can strain neck muscles or cause tension in the head. This sustained, unnatural pressure may contribute to the onset of headaches or migraines upon waking.
Risk of Damage and Misalignment to Eyewear
The most common and financially costly outcome is mechanical damage to the eyewear. Frames are susceptible to bending, warping, or breaking when a person rolls over and applies their body weight against them. Thin metal frames can bend easily, while plastic frames are prone to snapping at stress points, particularly near the hinges or where the arms meet the main body of the glasses.
Lenses are also at risk, as friction against bedding, blankets, or the pillow can cause surface abrasions and scratches. This damage is permanent and degrades the visual quality of the lenses.
A more subtle, yet significant, issue is frame misalignment, where the physical structure of the glasses is skewed. This shifting moves the optical center of the lens—the point designed for optimal vision—away from the center of the pupil.
Misalignment can cause a temporary visual distortion or eye strain when the wearer first puts the glasses back on, as the eyes must work harder to compensate for the incorrect placement. Even if the frames are not visibly broken, this subtle warping can compromise the intended function of the corrective lenses. Repairing or replacing the damaged components adds an unexpected cost and inconvenience.
Impact on Ocular Health
A frequent concern is whether sleeping with glasses on can cause permanent damage to the eyes or change one’s vision prescription. Eyewear works by neutralizing existing refractive errors like nearsightedness or farsightedness while they are worn. Since glasses do not alter the underlying biology of the eye, wearing them while asleep, even regularly, will not permanently worsen or improve the refractive error.
The temporary blurring or discomfort experienced upon waking is a result of eye strain caused by frame misalignment or pressure, not a lasting change in the eye itself. While the risk of injury exists if a frame breaks and a sharp piece pokes the face or eye, the closed eyelid generally offers protection. Sleeping with corrective lenses on does not cause permanent ocular damage, nor does it affect the stability of a vision prescription.