Sleeping while wearing contact lenses is strongly discouraged by eye care professionals. Contact lenses are medical devices placed directly on the eye’s surface, the cornea, for vision correction. Leaving them in overnight compromises the health and function of this transparent structure. Removing contact lenses before sleep protects the cornea from damage and prevents sight-threatening complications.
The Critical Need for Corneal Oxygen
The cornea is an avascular structure, meaning it contains no blood vessels to supply oxygen. It receives oxygen directly from the surrounding air, which dissolves into the tear film covering the eye. This oxygen is consistently available when the eyes are open during waking hours.
When the eyes close during sleep, the cornea’s oxygen supply is already reduced because the closed eyelid acts as a physical barrier. Introducing a contact lens creates a second barrier, severely limiting oxygen flow to the corneal cells. This lack of sufficient oxygen is known as corneal hypoxia.
Oxygen deprivation stresses the cornea, leading to temporary swelling and a compromised state. A swollen cornea is less capable of maintaining its structural integrity and fighting off foreign invaders. This vulnerability sets the stage for severe health risks.
Why Sleeping with Lenses Invites Serious Infections
The combination of oxygen deprivation and physical obstruction dramatically increases the risk of eye infection. Sleeping in lenses increases the risk of infection by six- to eight-fold compared to removing them nightly. This occurs because the lens traps moisture, debris, and microorganisms, such as bacteria and amoebas, against the eye’s surface.
The closed, low-oxygen environment beneath the lens becomes an ideal breeding ground for pathogens to multiply. A serious risk is microbial keratitis, a painful infection and inflammation of the cornea that can result in a corneal ulcer. This condition can rapidly progress, leading to permanent corneal scarring, vision loss, and potentially requiring a corneal transplant.
The weakened cornea, stressed by hypoxia, is less able to defend itself against multiplying bacteria. Common culprits include organisms like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are aggressive and destructive. Even a brief nap while wearing daily-wear lenses can significantly raise the risk of developing these complications.
The Difference Between Daily and Extended Wear Lenses
Daily wear and extended wear lenses are often confused. Daily wear lenses are designed for a single day and must be removed before any sleep or nap. Extended wear lenses are made from highly breathable silicone hydrogel materials that allow significantly more oxygen to pass through.
These lenses are approved for occasional or continuous overnight use for a specific period, often up to seven or 30 days, based on the product and a doctor’s prescription. Even with higher oxygen permeability, the risk of infection is still elevated compared to removing lenses nightly. The FDA approval is a measure of relative safety under strict adherence to a prescribed schedule, not a guarantee of absolute safety.
Eye care professionals recommend minimizing overnight wear, even with approved extended wear lenses. The rule remains that sleeping in any type of contact lens increases the risk of complications. The decision to wear extended-use lenses overnight should be made in consultation with an eye doctor who can monitor the eye’s health closely.
Immediate Steps After Accidentally Sleeping in Contacts
If you accidentally sleep in your lenses, do not immediately attempt to remove them. Your eyes will likely be dry, and the lens may be tightly adhered to the cornea, risking a painful corneal abrasion if forced off. The immediate action is to rehydrate the eye.
Apply several drops of sterile contact lens rewetting solution or preservative-free artificial tears. Close your eyes and wait five to ten minutes, allowing the fluid to work its way under the lens and restore moisture. Once the lens moves freely on the eye, gently remove it, discard it if it is a daily disposable, and switch to glasses for the rest of the day.
Monitor your eyes closely for unusual symptoms, such as persistent pain, redness that does not improve, blurred vision, or sensitivity to light. If any of these signs develop, remove the lenses and contact an eye care professional immediately. These symptoms can indicate a developing infection requiring urgent treatment.