Can I Take a Nap with Contacts?
Napping is one of life’s simple pleasures—a chance to recharge, relax, and escape the hustle of daily routines. But for the millions of people who wear contact lenses, a common question pops up: Can I take a nap with contacts? It’s a valid concern, especially when you’re too tired to go through the hassle of removing them for a quick snooze.
The short answer is that while it might seem harmless, napping with contacts can pose risks to your eye health. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the science behind wearing contacts during sleep, the potential dangers, and the best practices to keep your eyes safe and comfortable.
Why Napping with Contacts Might Seem Tempting
Let’s face it—life gets busy. Between work, family, and everything else, a midday nap can feel like a mini-vacation. For contact lens wearers, the idea of popping out lenses for a 20-minute nap might seem like overkill. After all, it’s just a quick rest, right? The process of removing, cleaning, and storing lenses takes time and effort, and when you’re already drowsy, skipping that step feels like the easier choice.
Plus, many people assume that a short nap isn’t long enough to cause any real harm. Unlike overnight sleep, where lenses might stay in for eight hours or more, a nap typically lasts anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. This shorter duration can trick us into thinking our eyes won’t mind. But as we’ll explore, even a brief nap can create problems if your contacts aren’t designed for extended wear.
How Contact Lenses Work with Your Eyes
To understand why napping with contacts can be risky, let’s take a quick look at how these tiny marvels function. Contact lenses sit directly on your cornea—the clear, protective layer at the front of your eye.
They correct your vision by bending light in a way that compensates for issues like nearsightedness or farsightedness. Most lenses are made of soft, flexible materials that allow some oxygen to reach the cornea, which is essential because your eyes need oxygen to stay healthy.
When you’re awake, blinking helps circulate oxygen and moisture across the lens and your eye’s surface. But when you sleep—even for a short nap—your eyes close, and this natural process slows down. With less oxygen reaching your cornea and no blinking to lubricate the lens, problems can start to brew. This is where the question Can I take a nap with contacts? becomes more than just a matter of convenience—it’s about eye health.
The Risks of Napping with Contact Lenses
So, what exactly can go wrong if you nap with your contacts in? The risks range from mild discomfort to serious infections, and they’re worth understanding before you decide to snooze with your lenses.
Dryness and Discomfort
One of the most common issues is dryness. When your eyes are closed, tear production decreases, and the lenses can dry out.
This might leave you waking up with gritty, irritated eyes. While it’s not a major health threat, it’s certainly not the refreshing nap experience you were hoping for. Over time, repeated dryness can also make your lenses less comfortable to wear during the day.
Corneal Hypoxia
A more serious concern is corneal hypoxia, which is a fancy way of saying your cornea isn’t getting enough oxygen. Most contact lenses reduce oxygen flow to the cornea to some extent, but this becomes a bigger problem when your eyes are closed during a nap. Without enough oxygen, your cornea can become stressed, leading to redness, swelling, or even tiny blood vessels growing into the cornea over time. It’s not something you’d notice right away, but it can build up with habitual napping in contacts.
Risk of Infection
The scariest risk is infection—specifically, something called microbial keratitis. This is an infection of the cornea caused by bacteria, fungi, or other microbes that can thrive under a contact lens.
When you sleep with contacts, even for a nap, you create a warm, moist environment that’s perfect for these germs to multiply. Studies have shown that sleeping in contacts increases the risk of keratitis significantly, and it can lead to pain, vision loss, or even permanent damage if untreated.
In 2018, a widely shared story about a man who slept in his contacts highlighted this danger. He developed a severe infection that left him temporarily blind in one eye, all because he didn’t remove his lenses before sleeping. While his case involved overnight wear, even a nap can set the stage for similar issues if bacteria are present on your lenses or hands.
Lens Adhesion
Another quirky problem is lens adhesion, where the contact sticks to your cornea after being pressed against it during sleep. When you wake up and try to remove the lens, it might feel stuck, and forcing it out can scratch your cornea. This minor injury could open the door to infections or just leave you with a sore eye for the rest of the day.
Does the Type of Contact Lens Matter?
Not all contact lenses are created equal, and the type you wear can influence whether napping with them is a safer bet. Let’s break it down.
Daily Disposable Lenses
Daily disposables are designed to be worn once and thrown away. They’re not approved for sleeping, even for a nap, because they’re typically made of materials that don’t prioritize extended oxygen flow. If you’re wondering, Can I take a nap with contacts? and you wear dailies, the answer is a firm no—better to pop them out and enjoy your rest without worry.
Extended Wear Lenses
Extended wear lenses, on the other hand, are specifically designed to be worn overnight. Made with highly breathable materials like silicone hydrogel, they allow more oxygen to reach your cornea.
The FDA approves some of these lenses for up to 30 days of continuous wear, including sleep. If you wear extended wear lenses, a short nap is less likely to cause problems—but you should still check with your eye doctor to confirm they’re safe for your specific eyes.
Monthly or Biweekly Lenses
These lenses fall somewhere in between. They’re meant for daily wear but need to be removed and cleaned each night. Napping in them isn’t recommended unless they’re explicitly labeled for extended wear. Most people wearing these lenses should err on the side of caution and take them out before napping.
What Experts Say About Napping with Contacts
Eye care professionals overwhelmingly advise against sleeping in contacts unless they’re FDA-approved for extended wear. The American Academy of Ophthalmology warns that sleeping in lenses—even for a short time—increases the risk of eye infections by six to eight times.
Dr. Thomas Steinemann, a clinical spokesperson for the academy, has noted that even a 20-minute nap can be enough to cause irritation or start an infection if conditions are right.
Optometrists also point out that everyone’s eyes are different. Some people might nap with contacts occasionally and feel fine, while others could develop issues after just one time. Factors like your tear production, lens hygiene, and overall eye health play a role in how your eyes handle the stress of sleeping with lenses.
Best Practices for Napping with Contacts
If you’re still tempted to nap with your contacts in—or if you accidentally doze off with them—here are some tips to minimize the risks.
Remove Them When Possible
The safest option is to take your lenses out before napping. Keep a small case and solution handy so it’s quick and easy. It only takes a minute, and your eyes will thank you for the break.
Use Lubricating Drops
If you must nap with contacts, use rewetting drops designed for contact lenses right before closing your eyes. This can help keep them moist and reduce dryness when you wake up. Just don’t rely on this as a long-term solution—it’s a temporary fix at best.
Limit Nap Time
Keep your naps short—ideally under 30 minutes. The less time your eyes are closed with lenses in, the lower the chance of problems like hypoxia or infection.
Check Your Lens Type
Double-check whether your lenses are approved for extended wear. If they’re not, don’t risk it. When in doubt, call your eye doctor for advice tailored to your prescription.
Wash Hands and Lenses
If you’ve napped with contacts unintentionally, wash your hands thoroughly before removing them. Clean the lenses with fresh solution to flush out any debris or bacteria that might have accumulated.
Alternatives to Napping with Contacts
If you nap frequently and hate the idea of dealing with contacts every time, there are alternatives worth considering.
Glasses
Switching to glasses for nap time is a simple fix. Keep a pair nearby so you can swap out your lenses without hassle. It’s a small adjustment that keeps your eyes safe.
Orthokeratology
Ortho-K involves wearing special lenses overnight to reshape your cornea, giving you clear vision during the day without contacts or glasses. It’s not for everyone, but it eliminates the napping dilemma entirely.
Nap Without Vision Correction
For a quick power nap, you might not need perfect vision at all. Take out your lenses, rest, and pop them back in when you’re awake. It’s low-effort and risk-free.
Conclusion
So, Can I take a nap with contacts? Technically, yes—but it’s not always a good idea. Unless you’re wearing extended wear lenses approved for sleep, napping with contacts can lead to dryness, discomfort, or even serious infections. Your eyes work hard every day, and they deserve a break when you rest.
Taking a minute to remove your lenses before a nap is a small price to pay for keeping them healthy in the long run. If you’re unsure about your specific lenses or habits, chat with your eye doctor—they’ll guide you toward the best choice for your lifestyle. Sweet dreams, and happy napping—hopefully with safe, contact-free eyes!
FAQs
1. Can I take a nap with contacts if they’re extended wear?
Yes, if they’re FDA-approved for extended wear, a short nap should be fine. Check with your eye doctor to confirm they’re suitable for your eyes.
2. What happens if I accidentally nap with my contacts in?
You might wake up with dry or irritated eyes. If it’s a one-time thing, it’s usually not a big deal—just remove and clean them afterward. Repeated naps could increase infection risks.
3. How long is it safe to nap with contacts?
There’s no exact “safe” time, but shorter naps (under 30 minutes) are less likely to cause issues than longer ones. Still, removing them is the best option.
4. Can rewetting drops prevent problems when napping with contacts?
They can help with dryness, but they won’t eliminate risks like infection or oxygen deprivation. Use them as a backup, not a solution.
5. Should I see a doctor if my eyes hurt after napping with contacts?
Yes, if you experience pain, redness, or blurry vision that doesn’t go away, see an eye professional ASAP—it could be a sign of infection or injury.
