88 percent sleep in contact lenses, clinic survey finds

What the survey found

Source: Oculase via The Covalent Bond, 15 September 2026; NHS, GOC, CQC and RCOphth for regulatory context.

An Oculase survey of 300 UK contact lens wearers, published on 15 September 2026 ahead of National Eye Health Week, which runs from 21 to 27 September, found that 88 percent have slept in their contact lenses. Sixteen percent said they do so regularly, while more than 70 percent said they had done so occasionally. The findings suggest that overnight wear, which restricts the oxygen supply to the cornea, is common among the respondents.

Other habits reported in the survey point to frequent contact between lenses and water. Seventy-nine percent said they wear lenses in the shower, 61 percent while swimming or in hot tubs, and 53 percent have rinsed lenses or cases with tap water. More than 80 percent had never heard of acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare sight-threatening infection linked to contact lens use and water exposure. More than half reported dry eyes, redness or irritation, and 67 percent had stopped wearing lenses at some point because of discomfort or an eye problem.

Tariq Ayoub, founder of Oculase, said: "Sleeping in contact lenses reduces oxygen to your cornea, leaving the surface stressed, slightly swollen, and more fragile." The release also quotes Sadiq Zaman, an optometrist in East London, and Nadeem Rob, an optometrist with practices in Kensington and Chelsea, who both said they see these habits regularly in practice. The survey results were issued to media through The Covalent Bond, with Martin Wilkins listed as the media contact.

Risk perception: the survey's second claim

The survey also asked wearers how they viewed the relative risks of contact lenses and laser eye surgery. Forty-one percent said contact lenses carry the higher risk of serious infection, 14 percent said laser eye surgery carries the higher risk, and 28 percent said the risks were similar. The remaining respondents did not give one of those three answers. The figures indicate that a minority of the sample identified laser surgery as the riskier option.

Ayoub framed the comparison in the release as a choice between two different patterns of risk. He said: "For most people, the choice isn't about eliminating risk entirely - it's about whether you prefer a small, ongoing day-to-day risk with contact lens use, or a short, carefully managed procedure such as LASIK with a well-understood recovery." That statement presents the decision as a trade-off between a recurring exposure and a single intervention.

The risk perception question sits alongside the hygiene findings, but the two measure different things. The hygiene questions record reported behaviour, such as sleeping or showering in lenses. The risk question records what respondents believe about two categories of product. Neither question establishes which option is safer for any individual, and the release does not report clinical outcomes for either group.

KT analysis: who paid for the survey and what it is selling

Oculase describes itself as a consultant-led eye clinic offering cataract surgery, laser vision correction and dry eye care, with clinics across London and Hertfordshire. The survey release closes by presenting laser surgery as the lower-risk option. That is relevant context for readers weighing the findings, because the organisation that commissioned and published the survey also sells the procedure that its final section favours. The hygiene findings themselves stand on their own and match NHS advice, but the comparative claim about risk comes from a party with a commercial interest in one of the two options.

The sample also limits how far the percentages can be generalised. Three hundred UK contact lens wearers who responded online are an indicative group, not a representative sample of the several million people in the UK who wear lenses. Percentages from a sample of that size carry a margin of error, and an online panel may attract people with a particular interest in eye health or in lens problems. The figures are best read as a signal that these habits are common, rather than as precise population estimates.

Laser eye surgery carries its own risks, which the release does not enumerate. These include dry eye, glare and halos, and rarely more serious complications. The release sets out the risks of contact lens habits in detail and the risks of surgery only in general terms. Readers comparing the two options may wish to weigh the hygiene findings, which align with NHS guidance, separately from the comparative claim, which comes from a clinic that sells laser correction.

What the NHS and regulators say

NHS guidance states that contact lenses should not come into contact with water, should not be worn overnight unless specifically prescribed for extended wear, and should be replaced as directed. Hands should be washed and dried before handling lenses. A red, painful eye, light sensitivity or reduced vision needs urgent attention, with the NHS directing people to an optician, NHS 111 or eye casualty. The survey's findings on showering, swimming and tap water use run against that guidance, and the finding that more than 80 percent had not heard of acanthamoeba keratitis suggests limited awareness of the specific infection linked to water exposure.

Supply of contact lenses is regulated. Under the Opticians Act 1989, contact lenses can only be supplied against a valid specification issued by a registered optometrist, contact lens optician or medical practitioner. The General Optical Council is the regulator for practitioners. That means a current, in-date specification is required before lenses can be sold, and aftercare checks form part of the regulated process rather than an optional extra.

Laser eye surgery providers in England must be registered with the Care Quality Commission. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists publishes professional standards for refractive surgery, and surgeons should hold GMC specialist registration. A prospective patient can check a clinic's CQC registration and a surgeon's specialist registration before booking. The regulatory framework for surgery is separate from the framework for contact lens supply, and both routes carry requirements that apply regardless of which option a person considers.

The money and the complaints route

The two options differ in how costs fall over time. Contact lenses are a recurring household cost, covering lenses, solutions and aftercare checks, and the total depends on the type of lens and how often it is replaced. Laser eye surgery is a one-off private fee, quoted per eye by clinics, and finance is usually offered to spread the payment. Neither contact lenses nor laser eye surgery is routinely funded by the NHS, so in most cases the cost falls to the individual either way.

Free NHS sight tests are available in England to people under 16, those aged 16 to 18 in full-time education, those aged 60 or over, people diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma, and those receiving certain benefits. NHS eye examinations are free for all residents in Scotland. A sight test is separate from a contact lens fitting and aftercare, and separate again from a surgical consultation, so eligibility for a free test does not by itself cover the cost of lenses or surgery.

Complaints follow different routes depending on the service. Complaints about opticians go first to the practice and then to the Optical Consumer Complaints Service. Complaints about private clinics go first to the provider and then to the Independent Sector Complaints Adjudication Service where the clinic subscribes. Concerns about standards of care can be raised with the Care Quality Commission. Knowing which route applies can help someone pursue a concern about either contact lens care or a surgical procedure.

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Frequently asked questions

How many people in the Oculase survey had slept in their contact lenses?

88 percent of the 300 UK contact lens wearers surveyed had slept in their lenses. 16 percent said they did so regularly, and more than 70 percent said they had done so occasionally.

Who commissioned the survey and what does the company sell?

The survey was published by Oculase, a consultant-led private eye clinic with sites across London and Hertfordshire. Oculase offers cataract surgery, laser vision correction and dry eye care, and the release closes by presenting laser surgery as the lower-risk option.

What does the NHS say about wearing contact lenses in water or overnight?

NHS guidance states that contact lenses should not come into contact with water and should not be worn overnight unless specifically prescribed for extended wear. Lenses should be replaced as directed, and hands should be washed and dried before handling them.

What should someone do about a red, painful eye while wearing contact lenses?

NHS guidance says a red, painful eye, light sensitivity or reduced vision needs urgent attention. People are directed to contact an optician, call NHS 111 or go to eye casualty.

Are contact lenses and laser eye surgery available on the NHS?

Neither is routinely funded by the NHS. Contact lenses are a recurring private cost covering lenses, solutions and aftercare, while laser eye surgery is a one-off private fee quoted per eye, usually with finance offered.