Wearing of contact lens while sleeping could lead to infection, expert warns

An ophthalmologist warned that wearing contact lenses while sleeping could lead to infection and other complications and underscores awareness of the symptoms of eye infection.

According to Vonne Aquino’s report in “State of the Nation” on Thursday, cornea and external eye disease specialist Lawrence Pe explained that forgetting to remove your contact lenses before sleeping could cause injury to your eyes which may lead to an infection.

“Hindi nakakahinga yung cornea, yung oxygen kasi galing sa hangin. So kung nakalagay yung contact lens at nakapikit pa magdamag, magiging prone sa injury at yung injury na ‘yun madaling pasukin ng infection,” said Pe.

(Our cornea cannot breathe because oxygen comes from the air. So if you wear your contact lenses with your eyes closed all night, your eyes will be prone to injury and that could lead to infection.)

Pe further warned that the cornea could also be damaged by prolonged wearing of contact lenses.

“Tuluyang numinipis ang cornea hanggang sa mabutas. So kapag nabutas ang cornea, lalabas yung fluid galing sa loob ng mata, kailangan maisara yung butas,” he said.

(Our cornea will get thinner until it’s punctured. So if our cornea is punctured, fluid will come out and that has to be closed.)

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Actress-comedian Maureen Larrazabal earlier shared that she went blind for two years after she slept with her contact lenses in, which caused her cornea to be cut open.

Her cornea then got infected by bacteria, so much so that she had to get a corneal transplant.

Eye care

Among the symptoms of eye infection to watch out for include feeling of a foreign object inside the eye, teary eyes, pain and reddening of the eyes, and getting easily blinded by lights.

Better go see a doctor if there is already an irritation, drying up of the eyes, small bumps in the lining of the eyes, and scratch in the cornea.

Experts also advise to always wash your hands when putting and removing your contact lenses, following the right schedule of changing your contact lenses, and consult a doctor before using one.

Further, contact lenses shall only be used for up to 10 to 12 hours a day. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA Integrated News