What Happens If You Sleep in Contacts?

Sleeping with your contacts on happens more often than you think. About one in three lens wearers admits to falling asleep while wearing their contacts.

Some even believe that highly oxygen-permeable lenses are safe to sleep with, but even modern lenses pose risks. Let’s discuss the risks and what you should do if you sleep with contacts on.

What Happens If You Sleep With Contacts On?

When you sleep in your contacts, your corneas may not get enough oxygen, causing swelling known as corneal hypoxia. At the same time, your tear film becomes stagnant, allowing microbes to thrive.

It also increases your risk of microbial keratitis, a severe eye infection. Other risks include:

• Bacterial keratitis. This is the most common type of keratitis that involves corneal inflammation caused by a bacterial infection. Bacterial keratitis can occur when bacteria from your fingers, contact lens, or storage case enter your eye.
• Fungal keratitis. A fungal infection causes this type and is more common in tropical climates. However, fungal keratitis can happen to people anywhere in the world.

Other Side Effects of Sleeping With Your Contacts On

Aside from the infections mentioned above, you can also experience immediate and long-term side effects, such as:

• Dry eyes
• A gritty feeling in the eyes
• Blurry vision
• Redness and irritation
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• Corneal ulcers
• Corneal hypoxia
• Inflammation
• Corneal scarring
• Potential vision loss

Even if you sleep in your contacts occasionally or by accident, your risk for infection still increases. Non-prescription contact lenses can also result in serious eye problems and lead to a corneal transplant.

Are Any Lenses Safe for Overnight Wear?

According to the FDA, contact lenses fall into two main categories: daily-wear and extended-wear lenses. Daily-wear lenses must be removed nightly, while extended-wear lenses are approved for overnight use under specific conditions.

Extended-wear lenses are typically made from silicone hydrogel materials, which allow greater oxygen flow and reduce corneal swelling. However, even with silicone hydrogel lenses, the risk of infection remains six to eight times higher compared to daytime-only wear.

You can also wear Orthokeratology (Ortho-k) lenses overnight for at least 8 hours. These lenses shape the curvature of your cornea and are removed in the morning so you can enjoy clear vision throughout the day.

What Should I Do If I Slept With Contact Lenses On?

If you accidentally nod off with your contacts still in, don’t panic. There are some things you need to do as soon as possible to minimize the potential damage.

These include:

• Wash your hands thoroughly before removing your lenses.
• Apply preservative-free lubricating eye drops (rewetting drops) to soothe and hydrate your eyes immediately.
• Switch to glasses for at least 24–48 hours to let your corneas recover and re-oxygenate.
• Schedule an eye exam to check for potential damage, complications, and infections.

When Should You Call A Doctor?

Here is a list of symptoms associated with contact lens-related corneal infections:

• Blurry vision
• Unusual redness of the eye
• Swelling
• Eye pain or discomfort
• Itchy eyes or a burning sensation
• Excessive tearing
• Eye discharge or crusting around the eye
• Increased sensitivity to light
• A feeling of something in the eye

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact a doctor immediately. You should also discard your contacts and lens storage case to prevent reinfection.

How To Prevent Accidentally Sleeping With Your Contacts On

Here are a few things you can do to avoid future mishaps:

• Set phone alarms or leave reminders on your bathroom mirror to cue nightly removal.
• Keep your lenses clean and always use fresh multipurpose contact solution. Never expose lenses to tap water.
• Consider switching to daily disposable lenses to eliminate overnight storage risks and simplify hygiene.