The eye is the most complex organ in the human body, after the brain, and also one of the most fragile. Made up of several parts, the white, the iris, the pupil, and the retina, it works a bit like a camera. About 80% of all learning occurs through vision. How can we preserve it? Are there any actions to take or avoid?
These are the questions that Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, the hosts of podcast « Am I Doing It Wrong ? ” of Huffington Postasked Dr. Amanda Redfern, an ophthalmologist and assistant professor at the Casey Eye Institute at Oregon Health & Science University.
His answer is straightforward: “Sleeping with contact lenses in your eyes is bad. Really bad. Don’t do it. It’s like a game of Russian roulette,” she says, adding that this recommendation also applies to naps.
Corneal ulcer, a dangerous infection
Indeed, sleeping with contact lenses exposes the eyes to the formation of a corneal ulcer, a potentially very serious infection. “It doesn’t happen every time, but when it does, it’s terrible,” says Amanda Redfern. “It can be so severe that in the worst case scenario you could lose your eyeball. »
When the infected eye is saved, a scar may form on the cornea. However, “if this scar is in the center of your vision, it could affect your vision permanently, unless you receive a corneal transplant,” she specifies.
If falling asleep with lenses is strongly discouraged, the same goes for swimming. Swimming in a pool, the sea, a lake, or even taking a shower puts you at risk of infection. “The problem with contact lenses is that they will trap bacteria between the lens and your cornea, and you can become infected,” warns the specialist.
Protect the eyes from any foreign bodies
Non-sterile items that come into contact with the eyes represent a potential danger. This includes using tap water to rinse or store lenses. In the event that you forgot to bring contact lens solution on vacation, what should you do? Sleep with them, or rinse them with water? “Both options are terrible,” says Amanda Redfern. “I’d rather you throw away the lenses and walk around with your vision a little blurry.” »
The specialist also encourages investing in protective glasses, to use when DIYing at home. “Always wear eye protection, because I actually spend half my time in the hospital in consultation, and this kind of trauma is just crazy. » Another tip: if a foreign body gets stuck in your eye, don’t try to remove it yourself. “Extracting it in an uncontrolled manner risks causing the internal contents of the eye to come out with it,” warns the ophthalmologist.
Source: www.topsante.com
