In general, when asked if I can sleep with contact lenses or contact lenses The answer is always no, but if the materials we currently use to manufacture contact lenses have health approvals to sleep with them... why is this contradictory message still used?
One of the most ingrained concepts among users and even professionals is to avoid sleeping with contact lenses at all costs. The reason for this topic has its origin in the first materials used as a compensation system, which did not yet meet safety criteria that would allow, in any case, to keep the contact lenses with the eyes closed for several hours.
The appearance of the first hydrophilic (soft) contact lenses and gas-permeable materials (rigid) in the early 70s opened up a possibility for the use of lenses, in the so-called therapeutic use, in a permanent use regimen ( sleep with the lenses on).
This aspect made it possible for therapeutic contact lenses to be used as a dressing for certain infections (even as a drug reservoir) or in corneal erosions more or less severe and even that contact lenses were marketed whose label could read permanent use for 6 months.
In 1987, faced with a series of serious eye problems, the health authorities decided to ban this type of use, reducing it to periods of between 6 and 30 nights.
At present, and thanks to the materials available to us, this option is perfectly feasible, being the professional and the user the ones who must agree if this use can be beneficial for the user. We must not forget that the Silicone Hydrogel materials were specifically designed to sleep with the lenses on (even up to 30 nights)
In addition, the final price is almost the same, since in most cases, they are the same contact lenses that we use on a daily basis.
Criteria for the permanent use of contact lenses
- High graduation: It would be similar to surgery but in a reversible way.
- Handling problems: For people with reduced mobility or manual difficulties, professions in which the hands cannot guarantee correct handling, such as car mechanics.
- Professional interest: In certain professional situations this type of use may be interesting. For example, people with very long hours and on shifts, in whom they sleep for odd hours.
- Travel: In some cases, permanent use may be preferable to handling with risks of environmental contamination.
- Adaptation to multifocal contact lenses or complex graduations: In these cases, a temporary permanent use allows us to make a better assessment of the type of compensation to use.
Obligations for the use of contact lenses to sleep
- Accept and follow all the indications and controls indicated by your professional.
- The contact lens in this regime should be considered "single use". When we remove it from the eye, we should no longer use it in permanent use. In any case, we can use it in a daily use regime, since it has already been manipulated and has already contacted the maintenance solution.
- In the event of any incident: red eye, vision problems, unusual discomfort... the lenses must be removed. Do not use until the next day (if all signs and symptoms have disappeared) and use new lenses. If the problem persists, remove it again and consult a professional.
- Do not exceed the days of use that you agree with your professional.
- In some cases it may be necessary to use some type of superficial cleaner (it is instilled with the lens on)
- The first weeks of use (and usually as a recommendation) should be instilled artificial tear before going to sleep and when waking up in the morning.
- The contact lens should not bother.
- Agree with the professional, for the day of the change of lenses, the hours of rest to be carried out.
- Do not perform flexible use: a few days without sleeping, others sleeping….Although it is an advertised use regimen, it is a source of possible important complications.
I fell asleep with my contact lenses on
If you never sleep in your contact lenses, and one day, for whatever reason, you fall asleep in them:
- Upon waking up, you may notice a sensation of dryness and some friction, which you will notice more the more days the contact lens has been worn (more handling, more contact with the maintenance solution)
- Remove the contact lenses, always moisturizing them with physiological serum before removing them. If we do not have serum, we can use the unique solution. Be careful because many people hesitate between using artificial tears or saline, But they are not the same.
- If after removing there is any discomfort that does not disappear, consult our professional.
Important: Do not sleep with your contact lenses on a regular basis without consulting your professional.
Remember: if you want to consider permanent use of your contact lenses, consult your professional if possible in your case, who will advise you and control the most appropriate system to follow to carry it out.
