Contact lenses are a tremendously convenient option for vision correction; they allow for a full range of vision, are great for active lifestyles, and are comfortable to wear. As any optometrist will tell you, it's no wonder their popularity has grown. That said, according to the experts at Edwin Y. Endo, OD & Associates in Aiea, Hawaii, contact lenses can all too easily be misused, and one of the worst things you can do is forget to take them out overnight.

Why is sleeping in your contacts a bad idea? There are several reasons:

• Oxygen Deprivation: Just like the rest of your body, your eyes need to breathe, and they get oxygen through direct contact with the air. Contacts cut off this air supply, which is fine during the day; however, your eyes need time to recover, and most people are able to do this at night.
• Swollen Cornea: When your eye doesn't get enough oxygen, the cornea—basically, the “lens” or part that provides eye-color—can swell. This swelling causes gaps to form between the cells in your eye which encourages bacteria growth and can lead to infection.
• Bacteria Growth: It's not a pleasant thought, but even well-maintained contact lenses can hold thousands of bacteria; the source of the bacteria that infects you may already be on the contact you’ve put in that morning. Removing your contacts overnight allows an opportunity for both the eye to clean itself and the solution to clean the lenses.
• Damage: Even properly wearing contact lenses causes some damage to the walls of your eye, which makes the surface slightly more jagged. This inhibits your eyes' ability to stay moist. Sleeping in contacts will make your eyes drier.

Ultimately, it’s worth taking an extra minute to take out your contact lenses before you go to sleep, even if you just want to take a short nap. To learn more eye care and contact tips, visit Edwin Y. Endo, OD & Associates online, or call (808) 487-5500 to schedule an appointment in Aiea with the eye doctor today.