What happens if I accidentally fall asleep with contacts in?

You've probably fallen asleep with your contacts in once or twice if you're like one-third of contact wearers. You might have just awoken with your eyes feeling a bit dry. Yet, sleeping with your contacts increases your chances of getting an eye infection by six to eight times. Today we will discover why sleeping with contacts in increases your risk of infection, what sorts of illnesses can arise, and what to do if you inadvertently sleep with contacts in.

Is it safe to sleep when wearing contact lenses?

When you wear your contact lenses overnight, you increase your risk of microbial keratitis, a kind of ocular irritation caused by infection, by more than five times. This danger exists regardless of whether your lenses are soft, hard, ornamental, or prescription. Sleeping with contacts is unfortunately a prevalent practice among both teenage and adult contact lens wearers.

Sleeping in your contacts on occasion or unintentionally might potentially raise your risk of infection. Researchers even advise avoiding sleeping in lenses designed for overnight or extended usage.

So, can I nap while wearing contacts?

Even if you are merely taking a nap, it is not safe to sleep while wearing contacts. A brief or unintentional slumber in your contacts might enhance your risk of illness. If you believe you might fall asleep, it is best to remove your contact lenses first.

What if I accidentally fall asleep with my contacts in?

Even if you don't intend to sleep with your contacts in, you can find yourself dozing off before taking them out on occasion. It is critical that you remove your contacts as soon as you wake up. First, ensure that they can be readily removed. Do not pull on them if they are trapped. Instead, use eye drops and blink until the contacts are easily removed.

Then take a break from your eyes. For at least a day, avoid using contacts and pay special attention to how your eyes feel. If you observe any indications of infection, stop using your contact lenses and notify your eye doctor right away. Bring your contact lenses in their case and bring them to your visit.

The following are the symptoms of an eye infection:

• Blurry vision
• Eye discharge
• Eye redness
• Eye pain or discomfort
• Excessive tearing up
• Sensitivity to light
• Swelling
• Itchy or burning eyes

How to Use Contact Lenses Safely?

Sleeping is beneficial to your health, but sleeping with your contacts in offers an infection risk. Wear your contacts just when you are awake to protect your eyes. In addition, maintain good contact lens hygiene. Following these steps can help you avoid eye infections:

• Clean and disinfect your lenses according to the instructions that came with them.
• After wearing contact lenses, always dispose of any residual solution. Do not replace the existing solution in your contact lens case with the new solution.
• Avoid exposing your lenses to any type of water or saliva.
• Do not wear your contact lenses whether swimming or entering a pool, hot tub, lake, or ocean.
• Change your storage case every three months, or as directed by your eye doctor.
• Transferring your contact lens solution into another container while traveling is unsanitary. Instead, choose travel-sized solutions.
• It is also critical to see your eye doctor once a year. Even if your contact lenses are only for decoration and do not affect your eyesight, you should still receive a prescription for them. Contact lenses sold without a prescription are illegal and might be infected. A doctor's appointment allows you to discuss with your doctor the safest approach to use and maintain your contacts.