Can you sleep with contacts in?

Question

I travel a lot for work and sometimes I'm just too exhausted to take out my contact lenses at night. I'm wondering, is it safe for my eyes to sleep with contacts in, or should I absolutely avoid it?

Megha Roy · Accepted Answer

I literally just recovered from a severe corneal infection last week because I fell asleep with my contacts in. My eye was completely red, swollen, and extremely painful. Trust me, never make this mistake, always take them out before sleeping.

Suresh Nair · Answer

I used to sleep in my contact lenses regularly, ignoring the mild itching and redness until I got a corneal ulcer that permanently damaged a bit of my vision. If your eyes feel irritated or dry after wearing lenses, please get them checked by an ophthalmologist immediately. Don't take it lightly.

Neha Gupta · Answer

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel super anxious if they even take a afternoon nap with lenses on? My eyes feel so dry and sticky afterwards. I am always scared they will get stuck forever.

Anjali Paul · Answer

It is highly recommended to take them out before sleep. This keeps your eyes safe from infections and lets them rest.

Rohan Sharma · Answer

I panicked like crazy the first time I fell asleep with my contacts in and woke up with dry eyes. My eye doctor reassured me that while it's not good, a one-off mistake won't blind you. Just put some lubricating drops, wait 10 minutes, and gently take them out.

Karan Malhotra · Answer

I actually set a nightly 'remove contacts' reminder on my Apple Watch so I never forget. Sleeping with lenses on drastically increases infection risk because of lack of oxygen to the cornea. Tracking your sleep hygiene is just as important as your daily steps!

Amit Patel · Answer

No, sleeping with contacts in is extremely risky. It starves your eyes of oxygen and can cause serious infections.

Can you sleep with contacts in?

7 answers

Consult a internal medicine specialist

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