Why is sleeping in contact lenses bad?

Sleeping in contact lenses can be dangerous: Many contact lens wearers sometimes sleep or nap while wearing lenses. But this bad habit could raise their risk of serious eye infections and even lead to vision loss.

A recent report from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlighted the risks of sleeping in contact lenses. The six patients in the report developed a condition called microbial keratitis, an infection of the eye’s transparent outer covering (the cornea) caused by bacteria, fungi, amoebas or viruses. Poor hygiene and disinfection also contribute to infection risk.

A teenage girl who slept in lenses purchased without a prescription developed a corneal ulcer. A man who wore the same lenses for two weeks was diagnosed with a perforated cornea, bacterial infection and required a corneal transplant to save his eye.

 

Picture Credit : Google