Mumbai: Contact lenses are a medical miracle for those with severe vision problems. But their prolonged use can be hazardous to your health. The risks could range from nasty infections to blindness. According to a study, sleeping with contact lenses can cause irreversible eye damage or cause corneal infections like microbial keratitis, which can lead to serious health problems. “Sleeping in your contact lenses is risky and can lead to infections, or in some cases, permanent damage. Falling asleep, or even napping, without removing your contact lenses can significantly increase the likelihood of serious health problems,” says a senior doctor at KEM hospital.
Dr Pravin Patil, a retina surgeon from Latur’s Shri Venkatesh Eye Institute, says, “If you forget to take out your contact lenses each night, before going to bed, there is a risk of losing your eyesight in the long run. The eyes receive limited supply of oxygen if we wear contact lenses while sleeping. With such prolonged use, the chances of getting an infection increase. So, never forget to remove your contact lenses before sleeping.”
In one case, a man evaluated for eye redness and blurry vision reported sleeping in contact lenses three or four nights a week and swimming with them. He had to be treated for bacterial and fungal microbial keratitis. In another instance, an adolescent girl who slept in lenses purchased without a prescription developed a corneal ulcer that resulted in scarring.
A man who wore the same lenses for two weeks was diagnosed with a perforated cornea, bacterial infection and ultimately required a transplant to save his right eye. “If you want to avoid infection, and avoid a trip to the emergency department, proper eye care is a must,” say senior ophthalmologists.
Siddhi, a 26-year-old Mumbai resident, forgot to remove her lenses for several nights in a row. Every morning when she awoke, she experienced irritability and itching in her eyes. “I have been using contact lenses for the past ten years. I would forget to remove my lenses before going to sleep. Soon, I began experiencing problems — my eye would water continuously. This made me realise the importance of removing my contacts before going to bed,” she says.