Contact lenses are convenient enough that it is tempting to forget you are wearing them, whether that means dozing off before removing them or jumping into a pool without a second thought. Both habits carry more risk than most wearers realize.
The optometrists at OPTYX NEW YORK fit and monitor contact lens wearers every day, and questions about sleeping in contacts and swimming with contacts come up constantly. Here is what actually happens to your eyes in each scenario.
Is It Safe to Sleep in Contacts?
Sleeping in contacts, even occasionally and even with lenses marketed as extended wear, significantly increases your risk of a serious eye infection. When your eyes are closed for hours, less oxygen reaches the cornea, and a contact lens further restricts that oxygen supply.
This combination creates ideal conditions for bacteria to multiply against the surface of the eye. Research on contact lens wear consistently shows that sleeping in lenses not approved for overnight use raises the risk of microbial keratitis, a corneal infection that can threaten vision, by several times compared to removing lenses nightly.
The reduced tear exchange that happens while your eyes are closed also plays a role. Tears normally flush debris and bacteria away from the surface of the eye throughout the day, and a lens left in place overnight interferes with that natural rinsing process.
What Happens If You Accidentally Fall Asleep in Contacts?
Falling asleep in contacts once, particularly during a short nap, is unlikely to cause lasting harm for most wearers, but it should not become routine. Upon waking, your eyes may feel dry, gritty, or slightly red, which usually signals it is time to remove the lenses and rest your eyes rather than continue wearing them.
If you experience pain, significant redness, light sensitivity, or blurred vision after sleeping in contacts, remove them immediately and contact an eye care professional, since these symptoms can indicate the beginning of an infection that needs prompt treatment. Persistent redness that does not settle down within a day is also worth having examined, since why your eyes might always be red covers other causes that sometimes overlap with contact lens irritation.
Can You Go Swimming With Contacts?
Swimming with contacts, whether in a pool, lake, ocean, or hot tub, introduces waterborne microorganisms directly onto a lens that sits against your eye for hours afterward. Pool water, even when chlorinated, can carry organisms that chlorine does not fully eliminate, and lake or ocean water carries an even wider range of bacteria and parasites.
One organism of particular concern is Acanthamoeba, a microorganism found in various water sources that can cause a severe and difficult-to-treat corneal infection in contact lens wearers. Swimming with contacts is one of the most commonly cited risk factors for this specific infection.
What Should You Do If Water Gets in Your Contacts?
If you swim while wearing contacts despite the risk, remove the lenses as soon as possible afterward rather than continuing to wear them for the rest of the day. Discard daily disposable lenses entirely, and disinfect reusable lenses with a full cycle of fresh multipurpose solution before wearing them again.
Never rinse contact lenses with tap water or use saliva in place of solution, since both introduce their own infection risks similar to those from swimming. Tap water in particular can carry Acanthamoeba and other organisms that solution is specifically formulated to eliminate.
Safer Alternatives for Water Activities
If you regularly swim or shower without removing your contacts, a few adjustments reduce the risk considerably. Prescription swim goggles create a watertight seal that lets you wear contacts more safely during pool time, since the lenses never actually contact the water.
Daily disposable lenses are also a practical choice for anyone who occasionally forgets and gets water in their eyes, since you simply discard and replace the lens rather than trying to disinfect one that has already been exposed. For frequent swimmers, prescription goggles remove the guesswork entirely.
Building Better Contact Lens Habits
Beyond sleeping and swimming, consistent lens care habits reduce your overall infection risk day to day.
- Remove lenses before napping, even briefly, unless they are specifically approved for extended wear.
- Keep a pair of glasses accessible for whenever contacts need to come out unexpectedly.
- Replace your contact lens case every one to three months, since old cases harbor bacteria.
- Follow your prescribed replacement schedule rather than extending lens wear beyond its intended lifespan.
Certain health conditions add another layer of consideration for contact lens wearers. For example, wearing contacts with glaucoma involves its own precautions around medicated eye drops and lens material, which is worth discussing at your fitting if it applies to you.
Schedule an Eye Exam at OPTYX NEW YORK
Whether you are dealing with irritation after sleeping in contacts, want to be fitted for lenses better suited to your routine, or are simply due for your annual contact lens exam, getting the right guidance protects both your eyes and your vision long term.
OPTYX NEW YORK has 14 locations across Manhattan, Long Island, the North Fork, the Hamptons, and Westchester. Order your contacts or book a contact lens exam to find the right lens and wear schedule for your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it bad to sleep in contacts one time? Sleeping in contacts once is unlikely to cause serious harm for most people, but it can leave eyes dry or irritated the next morning. Making it a habit substantially raises the risk of corneal infection, so it should not become routine. Can you go swimming with contacts in a pool? Swimming with contacts in a pool is not recommended, even with chlorinated water, since certain microorganisms can survive chlorination and cause serious eye infections. Prescription swim goggles are a safer way to see clearly in the water. What should I do if I swim with my contacts in by accident? Remove your lenses as soon as possible after swimming, discard daily disposables, and disinfect reusable lenses with fresh solution before wearing them again. Watch for redness, pain, or blurred vision over the following days. Can sleeping in contacts cause permanent damage? Occasional overnight wear is unlikely to cause lasting damage, but repeated sleeping in contacts significantly raises the risk of microbial keratitis, an infection that can cause corneal scarring and permanent vision changes if untreated. Are any contact lenses safe to sleep in? Some extended-wear lenses are FDA-approved for limited overnight use, but even these carry higher infection risk than daily removal. An eye care professional can advise whether extended wear is appropriate for your eyes. How soon after swimming with contacts should I remove them? Remove your contacts as soon as you are done swimming rather than waiting until later in the day. The longer a lens exposed to pool or lake water stays on your eye, the greater the opportunity for microorganisms to cause irritation or infection.
