I Fell Asleep with my Contacts in and now They are Gone
Ever wake up in a panic realising you’ve dozed off with your contact lenses still nestled comfortably on your eyeballs? Trust me, you’re not alone. Many of us have been there before and it’s typically followed by an intense search for the missing lens. But let’s be real – falling asleep with contacts in is no laughing matter.
Why exactly is this such a problem? Well, the answer lies in our eyes’ need to breathe. Yes, you read that right; our eyes require oxygen just like the rest of our body. When we leave our contacts overnight, we’re depriving them of much-needed air supply.
But here’s where it gets weird – sometimes you’ll wake up and those pesky lenses seem to have vanished into thin air! Sure, it may feel like a magic trick gone wrong but there’s actually a scientific explanation behind this phenomenon too! So losing contacts while sleeping isn’t just inconvenient, it could also potentially harm your eyesight.
The Dangers of Sleeping with Contacts In
Firstly, let me walk you through what happens when we say, “I fell asleep with my contacts in and now they’re gone.” It’s not a simple case of the contact lens playing a game of hide-and-seek. When you doze off with your contacts still on, there’s a fair chance that they can shift around and get stuck behind your eyelids. This isn’t just uncomfortable; it also poses several health risks.
The primary danger comes from the fact that lenses block oxygen flow to your eyes. Your cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, doesn’t have its own blood vessels to supply oxygen. Instead, it relies on tears and external air for this critical resource. Now imagine having a plastic barrier (your contact lens) blocking this natural process while you sleep – not good.
Here are some alarming statistics:
- Roughly one-third of contact lens wearers admit to sleeping or napping in their contacts.
- According to studies conducted by CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), people who sleep in their lenses are up to eight times more likely to get keratitis compared to those who remove them regularly before bed.
So remember: being lazy about removing those tiny pieces before bedtime isn’t worth risking the health—and sight—of your precious peepers!
Understanding What Happens when Contacts Disappear Overnight
Ever woken up and found your contacts missing? If you’re wondering, “I fell asleep with my contacts in and now they are gone – why is this bad?” Let me shed some light. When you sleep with your lenses on, the chances of them moving out of place or getting dislodged increase significantly. This isn’t a magic trick where they disappear into thin air; it’s a matter of contact-lens displacement.
When you close your eyes for that much-needed shut-eye, reduced blinking allows the lens to move around more freely. They might slide under your eyelids or even get stuck there. This is especially true for soft lenses which are more flexible and likely to move about compared to rigid ones.
But here’s where things turn from puzzling to problematic: if left unnoticed or untreated, these ‘wandering’ contacts can lead to serious eye issues. The eye needs oxygen to function optimally and sleeping with contacts reduces the amount of oxygen reaching your cornea. Increased exposure time also means more opportunity for bacteria buildup – both factors contributing towards potential infections or ulcers.
Risks Associated with Lost Contacts in the Eye
It’s not uncommon for folks to fall asleep wearing their contact lenses and wake up to find them missing. But why is this a problem? Well, there are several risks associated with lost contacts in the eye that you might not be aware of.
First off, sleeping with your contacts in can lead to reduced oxygen flow to the corneas. The cornea, which doesn’t have its own blood supply, relies on oxygen from the air. When you close your eyes for sleep, especially while wearing contact lenses, it reduces the amount of oxygen reaching your corneas.
The condition brought about by reduced oxygen flow is called hypoxia. Hypoxia can cause symptoms like redness, blurred vision or even serious infections if left untreated.
Here are some potential risks:
- Corneal Neovascularization: This condition happens when new blood vessels start growing into parts of the eye that should normally remain clear.
- Bacterial Keratitis: This severe infection can potentially cause blindness if not treated promptly.
- Corneal Ulcer: These painful sores on the eye’s surface may result from prolonged lens wear and poor hygiene practices.
Aside from these medical complications, losing a contact lens inside your eye could also lead to discomfort and irritation. The lens might slide under your eyelid or get stuck in a corner of your eye causing unnecessary distress.
Remember! It’s not just falling asleep with them once that causes problems – but making a habit out of it that leads to long-term damage. So next time when you’re thinking “I fell asleep with my contacts in and now they are gone – why is this bad?”, keep these potential risks in mind!
