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In order to remain healthy, your eyes need time to rest and breathe. For this reason, you should always take your contact lenses out every night before going to sleep. Otherwise, you could cause issues over time and need the attention of an eye doctor. Here’s a closer look at why you should take them out at bedtime.

How Sleeping With Contacts Can Damage Your Eyes

The corneas of your eyes need oxygen to stay healthy. Wearing contacts reduces the amount of oxygen the corneas are able to absorb. Sleeping has the same effect because your eyes are closed. Therefore, when you’re wearing contacts and asleep at the same time, the amount of oxygen your eyes can receive is drastically reduced, causing the corneas to swell.

eye doctorThis inflammation is called keratitis, and it causes small gaps to appear in the eyes. When bacteria or microorganisms make their way into the gaps, the corneas can become infected. An eye doctor will need to prescribe drops or another form of treatment to deal with this.

What to Do If You Accidentally Sleep In Contacts

As soon as you wake up and realize your contacts are still in, remove them. If they’re difficult to take out, don't force the issue. Instead, add a few drops of contact lens solution into your eyes for lubrication, blink a few times, then try again.

After removing your contacts, don’t put them back in for at least 24 hours. If you experience any signs of infection, see an eye doctor immediately for treatment. Signs and symptoms of eye infections include blurred vision, watering, burning or itching eyes, and a bloodshot look.

 

If you’re in need of eye care, turn to the eye doctors at Midwest Eye Center: A Division of TriState Centers for Sight located in Crestview Hills, KY. The doctors and staff diagnose and treat a wide array of eye conditions for patients in the Cincinnati area and northern Kentucky. Call (859) 331-5600 to schedule an appointment or visit them online for more information about their services.

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