Wearing Contacts Overnight

Health Concerns

For anyone who has accidentally worn their contacts overnight, you are fully aware of the extreme discomfort and redness that awaits you the following morning. You've likely also asked yourself: did I just do damage to my eyes? The simple answer is probably not. If your eyes have managed to eventually return to their usual state of whiteness (not the puffy redness that starts off your morning), and your eyes feel okay (yes, this is subjective, but you would definitely know it if your eyes weren't feeling okay), then most likely you are in the clear. The problem with accidentally wearing contacts overnight, however, is that it has the potential to be blinding. Even though 99% of the time, no problems arise from accidentally forgetting to take your contacts out at night, the other 1% of the time, serious problems can arise.

Bacterial Infection & Corneal Ulcer

Wearers of extended wear contacts are estimated to be 18x more likely to develop microbial keratitis, which is a bacterial eye infection that can quickly become very serious and sight-threatening. Granted, extended wear contacts are different than daily wear, anyone who wears contacts overnight, even if it's just one night! - puts themselves at risk for developing a bacterial eye infection.

A bacterial eye infection can lead to a corneal ulcer. Soft contact lenses are designed to maximize water absorption, which unfortunately also enables bacteria to get in as well. A corneal ulcer forms when the surface of the cornea becomes compromised or damaged. A corneal ulcer may also develop even without infection: this is known as a sterile corneal ulcer, and it can also be caused by improper use and/or care of contact lenses. A corneal ulcer is progressive and requires immediate and aggressive treatment with antibiotics and steroids.

New Contact Lens Material

Researchers are working to combat this problem by developing contact lens materials that are less likely to harbor bacteria, and more likely to maintain a good supply of oxygen to the eyes. Silicon hydrogel is the new contact lens material that's revolutionizing extended wear contacts. As a result, extended wear contacts are improving and the risk of infection from wearing contacts overnight is dropping. In an effort to follow suit with daily wear contact lenses, many companies have developed a new line of contacts made of the same material as extended wear contacts: O2 Optix is an example of this, as well as Acuvue Advance. These contacts are ideal for those of us who forget to take contacts out at night on a regular basis. These new contact lenses are more than equipped to handle occasional overnight contact lens wear.

Let's face it, wearing contacts overnight is something that just happens. My best advice to you is to arm yourself with contact lenses that are either meant to be worn overnight (eg. Focus Night and Day or PureVision by B&L), or contacts that can handle being worn overnight (eg. O2 Optix or Acuvue Advance).