The dangers of leaving your contacts in overnight, and what to do if you accidentally fall asleep in them
If you wear contact lenses, you should always remember to remove them before going to sleep.
Former Bubble Gang cast member Maureen Larrazabal learned that the hard way when she went blind for two years after sleeping with her contact lenses in.
The actress recounted her experience with sudden vision loss during her recent appearance on the cooking talk show Lutong Bahay.
"Natulog ako nang may contact lens, tapos tumitigas ‘yun, ‘di ba, kapag hindi ka nag-drops?" she recalled. "Na-slit open ko ‘yung cornea, pinasukan ng Pseudomonas, so pumasok siya sa mata ko. Pagpasok sa mata ko, few hours lang, that bacteria will melt your eye in 24 hours, ganon siya katindi."
The incident happened while she was in Hong Kong, and she had to wait until she returned to the Philippines to get a corneal transplant at a local hospital.
"Pag-open nila puro pus, tapos wala na, wala na siyang itim," she said.
Larrazabal, according to her doctor, suffered Pseudomonas infection.
Ophthalmologist Fraian Barcarse told PhilSTAR L!fe that this condition is caused by a bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is a "more serious form of bacterial infection of the cornea commonly seen in extended contact lens wearers."
"Corneal infection with this organism develops rapidly, it triggers an inflammatory response causing corneal weakening and perforation that can lead to visual loss. It is urgent that a patient sees an eye doctor immediately to initiate treatment regimens," he explained.
Fellow eye physician Itos Yutangco explained that this infection can most likely happen to those who use contact lenses "improperly and unhygienically."
Should you experience blindness because of such inflammations, he advised that diagnosis must come before treatment as there are many causes of sudden vision loss.
Pseudomonas infection, however, isn't just limited to contact lenses being left overnight.
Eye doctor Jay Racoma detailed that it can also be caused by swimming in contaminated water sources such as pools, hot tubs, or lakes while wearing contact lenses. Those who are immunocompromised because of other illnesses like diabetes, steroid use, and more, are also susceptible to the infection.
"Symptoms include severe eye pain, redness, decreased vision, purulent discharge, hypopyon, and these may lead to corneal ulceration and perforation," Racoma said.
"Early treatment is vital because delays may lead to worsening of the infection and can lead to corneal perforation and vision loss," he added.
How dangerous is it to sleep with contact lenses in?
Ophthalmologist and microsurgeon Aye Mapile warned that sleeping with your contact lenses in is nothing to be taken lightly as it can affect the tear film, which is the transparent layer of liquid that covers the surface of the eye, and subsequently damage your cornea.
"Kailangan mong ma-realize na 'yung cornea is avascular, meaning wala siyang sariling blood supply or walang naghahatid sa kanya ng oxygen or kaya food ng mga blood vessel. Ang source niya ng oxygen is 'yung tear film natin o 'yung luha natin na lagi dapat siyang basa," Mapile said in an interview with L!fe.
"Ngayon, imagine mo maglalagay ka ng contact lens. Anong gagawin nung contact lens na 'yun? Ililimit niya 'yung flow ng oxygen sa eyes kasi may plastic or structure na nasa ibabaw niya, so dahil doon, 'yung cornea mo kapag matagal na, nasusuffocate siya," she continued.
While some are safe to sleep in such as extended wear contact lenses, Mapile still cautioned about using them for long periods of time as these may compromise the moisture your eye needs.
"Nagiging mas malala yung hypoxia o 'yung pagkawala ng oxygen kapag tulog ka kasi nakapikit na yung mata mo. Tapos syempre hindi ka nagbi-blink so 'yung moisture lalong nawawala. Kapag mababa 'yung oxygen content, ang mata natin is nagiging prone siya sa infection," she said.
"'Yung bacteria na 'yan, opportunistic 'yan. Kapag nakakita siya ng pagkakataon na mag-invade, mag-i-invade siya. And ang pinakagusto niyang environment is 'yung hypoxic environment, meaning 'yung walang oxygen. So kailan 'yun? Kapag tulog ka, naka-contact lens ka," she added.
You can also get corneal abrasions, which happen when the corneal epithelium is scratched or scraped off due to trauma. "These abrasions can become an entry point for infections," said Racoma.
What to do if you accidentally leave your contacts in overnight
If you forget to take your contact lenses out before heading to bed, there are some immediate remedies you can do to reduce vision-threatening problems.
"The first thing you should do is remove your contact lenses and let your corneas recover from oxygen-deprivation," Yutangco suggested.
"Washing your eyes with tap water is not advisable," he stressed. "Instead, generously apply eye lubricants. It's better if they're preservative-free. If you ever feel something unusual, consult your eye doctor immediately."
But what if your lenses get stuck in your eyes because of how extremely dry they've become?
"Huwag mong pilitin," Mapile urged. "Ang gagawin mo is mag-instill ka ng lubricants mo. A few drops, maybe three drops, tapos ipikit mo siya para mag-absorb yung drops. Mga five minutes, nakapikit ka lang. And then when you open your eyes again, the contact lens will be easily dislodged."
Following this, it's important to give your eyes a break from wearing contacts for at least a full day and watch for signs of infection like having watery eyes, redness, discharge, and pain or discomfort. If you notice any of these, you must see a specialist.
While the choice between glasses and contact lenses depends on individual needs and preferences, one has to be especially responsible when using the latter.
"It's important to keep good hand hygiene kasi direct contact siya doon sa mata, so kung ano 'yung infection na nasa kamay mo, malilipat mo doon sa mata mo agad-agad," Mapile underscored.
