The night lens is an ideal solution for people who, for various reasons, can no longer tolerate lenses during the day. You put this lens in when you go to sleep and as soon as you wake up, you take it out again. During sleep the eye will be corrected so that you can see clearly during the day. The cornea is subtly flattened so that the strength disappears. You don’t feel anything about this at all. However, wearing night lenses is not entirely without risks. The greatest danger is corneal inflammation, which can cause permanent vision loss.
The night lens
The night lens is a specially developed lens that you wear during sleep. It is an oxygen-permeable hard lens that causes your prescription to disappear. During sleep your eyes are corrected, and you will not notice anything else. Night lenses only work for myopia, i.e. for people with minus prescription. During the day you can see well without aids. The effect is temporary, so the lens must be worn every night to keep vision optimally sharp. Fitting night lenses is not done by every optician.
How it works
Myopia is subtly adjusted by gradually flattening the cornea. You don’t feel anything else about this. The lens is on the eye, but there is still a layer of tear fluid in between. Therefore, the lens does not sit directly on the eye and does not touch the cornea. Very light pressure from the lens on the eye causes the irregularities that provide the power to shift to the side of the eye. This deformation of the cornea allows you to see clearly during the day.
Suitable for whom?
When the eye is fully developed, i.e. from the age of about ten years old, eyes can be suitable for these contact lenses. When daytime contact lenses do not work well or people who suffer from very dry eyes, the night lens can offer a solution. People who participate in water sports or other forms of sports such as contact sports can also benefit from this. Glasses or lenses are not useful during exercise, so wearing a night lens is a convenient option.
Dry eyes
You have to be more careful with lenses than with glasses because lenses are worn directly on the eye. The shape of the cornea can change, so you should have your eyes checked by an optometrist occasionally. If you suffer a lot from dry eyes, the lenses can rub against the eyelids at night. During sleep, your eyes move or you may accidentally rub your eyes. When you take the lenses out in the morning, they may be so dry that they are difficult to remove. In that case, use an eye drop before taking them out.
Corneal damage
The greatest danger of eye damage from wearing night lenses is corneal inflammation. Particularly because the eyes can become dry and the lens comes into contact with the cornea. This can cause irreparable damage to the cornea and the resulting scar tissue can cause permanent vision loss. To ensure that tear fluid remains in the eye as much as possible, it is important to wear oxygen-permeable lenses. Good hygiene is therefore important. Wash your hands before putting in the lenses and clean the lenses well when you take them out in the morning before putting them in the storage solution.
Infection
At night the eyelids are closed and even less oxygen penetrates to the cornea. There is also less production of tear fluid. The chance that bacteria can strike is then greater. Poor hygiene can allow bacteria to penetrate and lead to ulcers and infections of the cornea. Recovering from this takes a lot of effort. There is a chance that a scar will remain on the cornea, which can lead to permanently poor vision.
Conclusion
Although there are risks involved, wearing night lenses can be a solution for some. This way you can see well without glasses or daily lenses, without having to laser your eyes. Make sure you have the lenses fitted by a specialist and remain under supervision. If you also ensure good hygiene and prevent eye infections, you can enjoy night lenses for years to come.
read more
- Eye disorder: corneal inflammation
- Eye complaints due to stress: causes and treatment
- Eye damage from contact lenses
- Irritated eyes: what can you do about them?
- Loss of vision due to aging
