Problems From Sleeping With Contact Lenses

 Contact lenses are soft plastic discs that are placed over the cornea of the eye. They are worn by those with vision problems as a corrective device, allowing them to see clearly without the need for glasses. While there are new contact lenses that have been designed for extended wear, many lenses need to be removed daily for eye health and safety. Sleeping in lenses that have not been designed with extended wear in mind can lead to dry eyes, blurred vision, sensitivity to light or even keratitis.

Many people who fall asleep with their contacts in will see halos around lights when they awaken. This visual phenomenon occurs when the pupil of the eye is bigger than the optical surface of the contact lens. Halos are not serious and will go away on their own over a period of several hours. A more serious visual phenomenon is seeing rainbows. The presence of visual rainbows indicates distension in the cornea of the eye. When this occurs, the contact lenses have been in the eyes too long and need to be removed immediately.
Falling asleep without removing daily wear contact lenses can also lead to dry eyes, lenses that feel stuck and an inability to see things clearly. Blurry vision with contacts that were previously clear can be an indication of deposits that have developed on the surface of the lenses. These deposits need to be cleaned away with sterile solutions or they will continue to cause surface problems, such as blurry vision. They can also make the lenses uncomfortable to wear and over time can lead to scratching of the eye tissues.
Poor contact lens use, including sleeping in contacts that have been designed for daily wear, can lead to the development of keratitis. This is a serious condition in which the cornea of the eye becomes inflamed. Keratitis can lead to destruction of the cornea and permanent loss of vision. However, with early treatment, sight can be preserved and further damage to the cornea can be prevented.
Wearing contact lenses longer than recommended can lead to the development of debris upon the shell of the lens. This debris can scratch the surface of the eye, creating the ideal situation for a bacterial infection. The surface tissues of the eye provide a protective covering for the organ and when this covering is compromised, it is easy for bacteria or fungi to invade, leading to an infection of the eye. Common symptoms of eye infections include redness and itching of the eye, tearing or other discharge from the eye, and eye soreness.
Photosensitivity is an intense response to light, particularly sunlight. Eyes that have been exposed to contact lenses for extended lengths of time are prone to photosensitivity and may water excessively upon exposure to light.
Sleeping in contact lenses can also lead to the development of corneal ulcers. These are open sores on the cornea of the eye. The ulcer begins to develop when bacteria infects a damaged area of the cornea's surface. The friction created by over-wearing of contact lenses can lead to weak areas of corneal tissue and breakdown of the eye's protective surface. Once infected, the eye usually becomes red and sore, with visible tearing and painful reactions to bright light. Corneal ulcers can be successfully treated with antibiotic eye drops; however, even a successfully treated ulcer may still leave a scar upon the surface of the eye.