Craig Melvin developed a corneal ulcer from sleeping in his contact lenses.
The “Today” anchor, 39, went to see an ophthalmologist after his colleagues noticed his red eye.
“My eyes didn’t feel like there was a problem,” Melvin told People. “But the redness is typically the telltale sign. The doctor said if it had gone untreated for several weeks, it could’ve been irreparable.”
Dr. Steven A. Shanbom, of Michigan, told the magazine, “When you’re sleeping and your eyes are closed you’re not getting much oxygen into your eye, which allows these bacteria to grow. It sets up a perfect storm for infection.”
Not properly cleaning lenses can also lead to corneal ulcers.
At the end of August, Melvin wore his glasses on-air for the first time in his 15-year career.
Untreated corneal ulcers can lead to scarring and loss of vision. Melvin treated his with antibiotic drops and has since switched to daily lenses to avoid having another issue.
“It’s a lot more serious than I thought it was,” Melvin shared. “When my ophthalmologist said that wearing your contacts every day without taking them out is like wearing the same pair of underwear every day, that was all I needed to hear.”