The same study shows that 82.3 per cent of people kept their contact lenses in longer than recommended, over half topped off rather than emptying the solution, and 50 per cent wore lenses while sleeping.
“Good vision contributes to overall well-being and independence for people of all ages, so it’s important not to cut corners on healthy contact lens wear and care,” says CDC Medical Epidemiologist Jennifer Cope, M.D., M.P.H. “We are finding that many wearers are unclear about how to properly wear and care for contact lenses,” she said.
With many people taking risks with eyewear, infections–oftentimes causing irreversible damage–happen more frequently than some are aware.
According to the CDC, an average of one out of every 500 contact lens users develops a serious eye infection that can lead to blindness every year.
In December 2022, Mike Krumholz, now 22, may be permanently blind after taking a 40-minute nap with daily disposable contacts still in his eyes. After the nap, he then showered, removed his contacts and went to sleep.
