EYE CARE Q: Why can't I sleep in my contact lenses? A: Some contact lenses are designed to be worn during the daytime only, while some contact lenses are approved for overnight wear. It's important to talk to your eye doctor about which type of contact lenses you have. In addition to having your prescription, your contacts have a lot of other properties that are designed to keep your eyes comfortable and healthy. For example, your cornea gets its oxygen supply from the air. When you wear contacts, there is less oxygen that can reach the eye, especially at night. Not all contact lenses are the same, some are designed to let more oxygen through than others. Contact lenses designed for daily wear only typically do not let as much oxygen through the lens as a contact designed for overnight wear. As a result, sleeping in daytime only contacts cause your cornea to be deprived of oxygen overnight. This can result in your cornea swelling causing blurry vision, and your eye can be red and irritated in the morning. Also, your contact lens will dry and take the moisture out of your tears causing your eyes to be dry as well. Even if your eyes are not blurry, red, or irritated the next morning, long term it can cause damage to your cornea. In addition, sleeping in your lenses and over-wearing your contacts increases the chances of you having an infection. We want to keep you happy in your contact lenses long term, which is why it's important to follow the care and handling rules given to you by your eye doctor. Most contact lenses are not approved to be slept in, and if they are the amount of time varies. If you have questions about your contact lenses or would like to be fit into contacts call our office. Dr. Kynndyl Giannonatti Optometrist WHELAN Care Eye 1900 DIVISION ST. W, BEMIDJI, MN (218) 759-1430 WHELANEYECARE.COM EYE CARE Q: Why can't I sleep in my contact lenses? A: Some contact lenses are designed to be worn during the daytime only, while some contact lenses are approved for overnight wear. It's important to talk to your eye doctor about which type of contact lenses you have. In addition to having your prescription, your contacts have a lot of other properties that are designed to keep your eyes comfortable and healthy. For example, your cornea gets its oxygen supply from the air. When you wear contacts, there is less oxygen that can reach the eye, especially at night. Not all contact lenses are the same, some are designed to let more oxygen through than others. Contact lenses designed for daily wear only typically do not let as much oxygen through the lens as a contact designed for overnight wear. As a result, sleeping in daytime only contacts cause your cornea to be deprived of oxygen overnight. This can result in your cornea swelling causing blurry vision, and your eye can be red and irritated in the morning. Also, your contact lens will dry and take the moisture out of your tears causing your eyes to be dry as well. Even if your eyes are not blurry, red, or irritated the next morning, long term it can cause damage to your cornea. In addition, sleeping in your lenses and over-wearing your contacts increases the chances of you having an infection. We want to keep you happy in your contact lenses long term, which is why it's important to follow the care and handling rules given to you by your eye doctor. Most contact lenses are not approved to be slept in, and if they are the amount of time varies. If you have questions about your contact lenses or would like to be fit into contacts call our office. Dr. Kynndyl Giannonatti Optometrist WHELAN Care Eye 1900 DIVISION ST. W, BEMIDJI, MN (218) 759-1430 WHELANEYECARE.COM