But it wasn’t for the better.
Though the lenses are marketed for “continuous wear” for from one to four weeks, a study by the American Academy of Opthalmology in 2013 shows that overnight wear, regardless of contact lens type, increases the likelihood of corneal infection.
When Groeschen, then 39, went to see a specialist he was told he developed a corneal ulcer infected with Pseudomonas bacteria, which doctors suspect resulted from sleeping in his extended-wear contact lenses. Groeschen explained that he was told by doctors that the contact lens acted like a petri dish, holding the bacteria that then attacked his eye.
Within days, Groeschen, a sculptor at a renovation organization, was unable to see out of his left eye and was told he would likely need a corneal transplant to restore his sight.
A study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reveals that the majority of the 41 million estimated contact lens wearers across the country do at least one risky thing that puts their vision in danger.
