Have I permanently damaged my eyes?

Question

I recently learned about the serious consequences of sleeping in contacts. I have now changed my routine and I take them out every night. Before, I used to leave them in for 1-3 days and then I would take them out like I should for the next 1-3 days. I now am doing the right thing and doing what I should with my contacts. But, am I too late, have I already permanently damaged my eyes?

Answer 1

Maybe I'm out of the loop, but I sleep in my contacts all the time. The kind I use are made specifically for overnight wear. I wear mine for 2-3 weeks, leave them out for a few days then start a new pair. I've been doing this since i was about 15 (I'm 20 now), and I have regular checkups at my eye doctor...he always tells me my eyes are perfect.

I don't know why or how this would have permanently damaged your eyes...

Answer 2

It really depends on what type of contacts you have been wearing and your individual eyes. How long have you been wearing contacts? If you have been doing this for years, if there was damage starting to show your doctor would have given you "the lecture". It is not healthy to sleep in your lenses, but I doubt you have done any serious damage yet. Only your doctor can tell you for sure though. Schedule an exam!

Good job changing your habits, you only get one pair of eyes, I can get you a fake eye, but you can't see out of it!

Answer 3

i cant give you a direct answer for this question. but this site may help you for your question http://forum.gethealthytips.com

Answer 4

I am not a doctor, but from my own experience I doubt you have permanently damaged your eyes.  I used to sleep in my contacts, that were not intended for overnight wear.  I used to get eye infections like pink-eye quite often, and one time got one that was much worse, and if I hadn't gone to the doctor within those first 2 days of noticing issues would have lost sight in one of my eyes.  

Anyways, wearing contacts for too many hours that aren't meant to be means your eyes aren't getting enough oxygen, so they are more prone to get infected, and further those infections more quickly once caught, but having stopped wearing them overnight you should be fine in that regard.