MetaChat - a sort of ignorant question about contact lenses:

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13 November 2006

a sort of ignorant question about contact lenses: I just got some 30-day lenses. Can I sleep with these? →[More:]

Here's the story: I got my all previous lenses from my ophthalmologist, and he just wouldn't hear of contacts you could sleep with... I told him I didn't plan on sleeping with them all the time, but I wanted them so that if I happened to fall asleep on the couch while reading or whatever, it wouldn't be a big deal. He wouldn't discuss it.

So... for various reasons, I've decided to go to a new doctor for a new prescription for glasses and contacts (it's time for a new set, and I don't feel like going back to to the other guy)... but in the meantime, I lost my contacts and had to get replacements 'til I get my new prescription. The ones I got (from an optician) are good for a month only, which is fine because I should have my new ones by then, but my question is, can I assume these are safe to sleep in? I forgot to ask, and don't much feel like going back or calling to find out.

post by: taz at: 12:09 | 13 comments

Please don't do it! A friend forgot to take hers out and suddenly was facing the possibilty of total blindness. She had her eyes bandaged for a few months and regained most of her vision, but she was really pissed that her ophthalmologist hadn't stressed the possible severity of leaving them in too long.

posted by StickyCarpet 13 November | 12:23

No, I really don't intend to sleep in them, but what I'm asking is if they are - as 30-day lenses - probably meant to be okay with that.

I've lost lenses before because I accidentally fell asleep with them in, and, I guess rubbed my eyes in my sleep when they became dry, and they came out and were lost. So... with these, if I'm watching tv on the couch, and I fall asleep and wake up four or five hours later, is it going to be okay?

I'm asking because it's a huge PIA to constantly worry and be aware of the stupid things in case you just happen to nod off before doing the whole brush teeth/remove lenses/wash face/go to bed thing. I really don't want to sleep in them... I just don't want to have to be hyper-aware all the time.

posted by taz 13 November | 12:37

I went through a couple-of-months phase where I would fall asleep on the couch almost every night with my (30-day daily) lenses in, sleep several hours, then get up and take them out. It didn't affect my vision at all, but they were so dry when I woke up that they had a vise-like grip on my eye. Also, the lenses didn't usually last as long because of increased protein deposits.

I don't think that a few hours would be a problem, but IANAO, YMMV, and I don't recommend it.

posted by initapplette 13 November | 12:59

My experience as a 20 year or more veteran of contact lenses is that this is one of those totally personal things. I've never been able to sleep well in my lenses, no matter what kind they are: my eyes just get too dry & uncomfortable & either it wakes me up or they feel awful when I do wake up. However, given that, I've napped (& passed out) in them numerous times - 2 week ones, disposables, 30 days, whatever; I've had them all - with no permanent ill effects except some discomfort on first waking up. I have friends who routinely sleep in theirs, no problem. My theory is that all lenses are more or less the same unless you've sprung for the expensive sleep in gas permeable ones (and my suspicious side thinks they're probably the same too) SO I bet if you've lost them while sleeping before, you will lose them again - it's just the way your eyes are.

posted by mygothlaundry 13 November | 13:03

I have the same experience with my two-week disposables as initapplette--sleeping with them on for a few hours is uncomfortable, but only temporarily so. But I have a friend that sleeps in his disposables without complaint.

posted by mullacc 13 November | 13:09

But I have a friend that sleeps in his disposables without complaint.

But I wouldn't recommend it, of course.

posted by mullacc 13 November | 13:10

one nite here and there wont cause any harm. i wear my soft lenses ("optix" brand) constantly, for 2-4 weeks. by doing this, i am putting myself at greater risk for developing eye problems, including blindness. i am very lazy, and it is very convenient to just leave them in.

posted by Wedge 13 November | 13:39

Sure, but make sure they will respect you in the morning.

Also: A Cautionary Tale, somewhat. But I did learn from the opthamologist that because I wore contact lenses, blood vessels have grown into my cornea. Eww.

posted by TrishaLynn 13 November | 13:39

It's funny... there's no brand info on these. They came in little "blister pack" containers that have the logo of the optician on them, and the correction, but no actual info about the lenses. Upon careful examination, it does appear that the package is recyclable.

Anyway, I'm not going to sleep in them. If I do fall asleep though, I'll let you know how it turns out.

And I'm not changing ophthalmologists because this one is strict about the sleep-ins - so was my last doctor - but because he ALWAYS tries to get me to have laser surgery. He doesn't want to answer any questions about my prescriptions or what I should do about certain problems - he just tells me I need to get the surgery. It's like having a used car salesman for your eyes!

posted by taz 13 November | 13:58

he ALWAYS tries to get me to have laser surgery. He doesn't want to answer any questions about my prescriptions or what I should do about certain problems - he just tells me I need to get the surgery.

O_o

that's wack!

posted by Wedge 13 November | 14:23

Yeah. Bite me, eye dude.

posted by taz 13 November | 14:27

An acquaintance of mine killed himself because he couldn't live with his botched laser eye surgery.

Just, you know, to inject a bit of happiness into the thread.

posted by gaspode 13 November | 15:03

oh, man.... Aaiiiiiigh! That's awful, 'pode.

posted by taz 13 November | 15:40

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