Chad Groeschen’s world was turned upside down when he woke up one morning with excruciating pain in his eye and clouded vision. The culprit behind his condition was not a mysterious illness, but rather his own contact lenses. Groeschen had been wearing “Night and Day” contacts, which he believed could be safely worn for 30 days straight, including while sleeping.
However, Groeschen’s decision to sleep in his contacts proved to be a costly mistake. He developed a corneal ulcer infected with Pseudomonas bacteria, which doctors suspect resulted from sleeping in his extended-wear contact lenses. The infection left Groeschen blind in one eye, and he was told he would likely need a corneal transplant to restore his sight.
Groeschen’s story is not an isolated incident. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an average of one out of every 500 contact lens users develops a serious eye infection that can lead to blindness every year. The CDC also found that the majority of contact lens wearers engage in at least one risky behavior that puts their vision in danger, such as sleeping in their contacts or topping off solution in the lens case.
Another victim of sleeping in contact lenses is Mike Krumholz, a 22-year-old baseball player who may be permanently blind after taking a 40-minute nap with daily disposable contacts still in his eyes. Krumholz developed a rare parasite called Acanthamoeba keratitis, which can cause blindness.
Both Groeschen and Krumholz’s stories serve as a warning to contact lens wearers about the importance of proper eye hygiene. The CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water before touching contact lenses, taking contacts out before sleeping, showering, or swimming, and rubbing and rinsing contacts in disinfecting solution each time they are removed.
Groeschen’s advice is simple yet urgent: “Maintain impeccable hygiene when it comes to your eyes.” By following these simple tips, contact lens wearers can significantly reduce their risk of developing serious eye infections and protect their vision.
