Can you nap while wearing contact lenses?

The advent of contact lenses has eliminated the discomfort caused by eyeglass frames pressing on the nasal bridge and the risk of breakage associated with traditional glass lenses. Moreover, contact lenses offer greater comfort and convenience, providing a wider field of vision and more natural, lifelike visual perception. So—can you nap while wearing contact lenses? Below, we address this question.

Can you nap while wearing contact lenses?

In general, it is not recommended to sleep—even for a short nap—while wearing contact lenses. During sleep, tear production ceases, and the lenses continuously absorb moisture from the ocular surface, potentially leading to dryness and discomfort. Upon waking from a nap, wearers often find their contact lenses adhered tightly to the cornea, making them difficult to move or remove. It is advisable to keep lubricating eye drops on hand to prevent significant damage to ocular tissues. Therefore, it is best to remove your contact lenses before napping, store them in fresh contact lens solution, and reinsert them after waking. Additionally, always thoroughly wash your hands before handling lenses to avoid infection.

Additional Information: Potential Risks of Wearing Contact Lenses

1. Increased Risk of Corneal Abrasion

Prolonged contact lens wear can cause mechanical abrasion of the cornea, potentially resulting in serious complications such as corneal epithelial erosion or even perforation. Some lenses have a curvature mismatched with the cornea’s natural shape, causing irregular abrasion that may lead to corneal ulcers. Such ulcers can cause irreversible vision loss, and even after successful treatment, they may leave permanent corneal opacities (white scars). Furthermore, contact lenses impede oxygen exchange between the cornea and ambient air, leading to corneal hypoxia—a condition analogous to altitude sickness in humans.

2. Increased Risk of Visual Fatigue

Extended contact lens use may contribute to visual fatigue and even trigger dry eye syndrome, manifesting as ocular burning, itching, foreign-body sensation, excessive eye discharge, dryness, burning sensation, and blurred vision. Moreover, contact lenses adsorb proteins, lipids, and collagen from tears, allowing these substances to accumulate on the lens surface and foster bacterial growth. This accumulation may lead to corneal edema, corneal neovascularization, and allergic reactions.

The above outlines whether it is safe to nap while wearing contact lenses. We hope this information is helpful to you.