An ophthalmologist shares graphic images to warn them not to sleep in his contacts

On May 3rd, 2019 at 20:58 UTC

By Shamard Charles, M.D.

The last thing most people want to do is get up off the bed and pull out their contacts, but the heart-wrenching photos of an eye ulcer developed after someone has slept with them. Soft contact lenses could make you change your mind.

The images, viewed more than 30 million times, were posted on Facebook by Dr. Patrick Vollmer, an ophthalmologist at the Vita Eye Clinic in Shelby, North Carolina.

Volmer explains that the patient developed a bacterial Pseudomonas infection that resulted in an ulcer.

The condition described is called Pseudomonas keratitisis, an inflammation of the cornea, related to contact lenses. It is a medical emergency and can cause permanent blindness if not treated immediately with antibiotics.

"Despite the treatment, the patient is very likely to experience vision loss," Volmer said.

The Pseudomonas microbe is present everywhere, mainly in soil, plants, animals and water. He loves hot, humid environments and tends to infect people with compromised immune systems, although any healthy individual can be infected in the right circumstances.

The flesh-eating bacterium is usually found in water. This is why doctors ask people to remove their contacts before jumping in the shower or swimming pool.

"I never recommend sleeping in a brand of soft contact lenses. The risks are greater than the benefits each time, "Vollmer said on Facebook. "It takes a few seconds to delete your contacts, but you risk a lifetime of irreversible damage if you choose to let them in. People need to see these images and remember / their family / friends to also be aware of the misuse of contact lenses. "

About one-third of people who wear contact lenses report sleeping or napping. According to a weekly report of August 16 on morbidity and mortality published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people at risk of eye infections six to eight times higher.

The design of contact lenses facilitates the development of infections. The contacts should rest directly on the eyes, but this allows bacteria and viruses to be easily trapped. When people do not come out of their contacts, the germs get infected. Sleeping in contacts prevents the eye from being able to heal itself.

"Although long-wearing contact lenses are safer for continuous use all night long than they were years ago, they can still protect the eyes from uncomfortable and even damaging infections if they are worn during sleep, "said Dr. John Torres, medical correspondent for NBC News. "Manufacturers and the FDA have approved some contacts for overnight use, but many ophthalmologists recommend removing them before going to bed anyway to prevent any of these problems."

"If you stay overnight, it is very important to follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning and disposing of the lenses and to follow up with your eye doctor if you notice pain, discharge, redness or changes. of vision, "added Torres.

Some glasses are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for nighttime wear, but even these are associated with an increased risk of infection when they are worn overnight. These night-time lenses are considered Class 3 medical devices, those with the highest risk of harm.

Pseudomonas infections are rare and may not represent the typical infections seen by most ophthalmologists. Emergency eye infections occur in one in 500 contact lens users. Depending on the context, approximately 45 million Americans wear contact lenses, according to the CDC.

It is unclear whether the patient mentioned in Facebook's message was susceptible to infections or whether he had other underlying health problems that might have made him more likely to develop extreme illness.

The CDC recommends that contact lens wearers take simple steps to avoid contact-related complications, such as not sleeping or swimming in lenses, replacing lenses and storage cases where recommended.

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Shamard Charles, M.D.

Dr. Shamard Charles is a medical journalist for NBC News and Today and reports on health policies, public health initiatives, medical diversity, and new developments in health care research and medical treatments .