Menu Close

What will happen if I wear my contact lens more hours a day or don't remove them at night?

Wearing your contact lenses for longer than recommended hours or not removing them at night can lead to several potential issues that affect your eye health. Here’s what can happen:

1. Dryness and Discomfort

  • What Happens: Contact lenses require a sufficient amount of oxygen to reach the cornea. When you wear them too long, particularly for extended hours or overnight, your eyes can become dry, irritated, and uncomfortable.
  • Symptoms: You may experience a scratchy feeling, itchiness, or burning sensations in your eyes.

2. Oxygen Deprivation

  • What Happens: The cornea gets oxygen from the air, but when contact lenses are worn for too long, especially overnight, it can prevent oxygen from reaching the surface of your eyes. This can lead to hypoxia (lack of oxygen), which can damage the cornea.
  • Symptoms: Blurry vision, eye redness, and discomfort are common signs. Over time, this can lead to more serious problems like corneal neovascularization (the growth of blood vessels into the cornea), which can affect vision.

3. Increased Risk of Infection

  • What Happens: The longer your lenses are in your eyes, the greater the opportunity for bacteria and debris to build up on the lenses, which can increase the risk of infections like conjunctivitis (pink eye) or keratitis (corneal infection).
  • Symptoms: Pain, redness, and discharge from the eye, or even blurry vision. In severe cases, an infection can lead to permanent scarring or vision loss.

4. Eye Fatigue

  • What Happens: Wearing lenses too long can cause eye fatigue because your eyes are working harder to keep the lenses in place and to see clearly. This is especially true if your lenses start to dry out or accumulate deposits over time.
  • Symptoms: You may feel that your eyes are heavy or tired, or experience frequent blinking and watering as your eyes try to compensate.

5. Lens Build-Up and Deposits

  • What Happens: When you wear lenses longer than recommended, they can accumulate proteins, lipids, and other debris from your tears. These deposits can irritate the eyes and affect the clarity of vision.
  • Symptoms: You may notice blurry vision or discomfort as the lenses lose their clarity and smooth surface.

6. Risk of Eye Diseases

  • What Happens: Extended wear of contact lenses (especially overnight) significantly raises the risk of eye diseases such as corneal ulcers, bacterial keratitis, and fungal infections.
  • Symptoms: Severe pain, vision changes, or a red eye that doesn't improve with rest. Some infections can cause permanent vision damage if not treated promptly.

7. Accelerated Aging of the Cornea

  • What Happens: Prolonged or improper lens wear can lead to corneal changes such as thinning, wrinkling, or scarring. Over time, this can permanently affect your vision and the health of your eyes.

Recommendations:

  • Stick to recommended wear times: Generally, aim to wear lenses for no more than 12-16 hours per day. If you have extended wear lenses, make sure to follow your doctor's guidance for overnight wear.
  • Remove your lenses at night: Always remove your lenses before sleeping to give your eyes a chance to rest, hydrate, and recover.
  • Use lubricating drops: If your eyes feel dry during the day, use preservative-free artificial tears to hydrate your eyes.
  • Follow a regular cleaning and replacement schedule: Always clean your lenses thoroughly (if they're not daily disposables) and replace them as recommended by your eye care professional.

In Summary:

If you wear your contact lenses for too many hours a day or don’t remove them at night, you risk eye discomfort, dryness, increased infection risk, and serious eye health issues. To maintain healthy eyes, stick to the recommended wearing schedule and ensure you remove your lenses before bed for proper rest and hygiene. If you notice any discomfort or vision changes, consult your eye care professional immediately.