A new study by researchers from China has found that contact lenses exposed to sunlight may shed microscopic fragments of plastic into the wearer’s eyes, potentially causing health problems. The study, which was a small-scale pilot, found that larger quantities of microplastics were shed from lenses designed to be worn for shorter periods of time after 90 days of simulated wear-and-tear. The findings highlight the importance of following manufacturer instructions and replacing contacts on the recommended schedule. An estimated 45 million people across the US wear contact lenses. The full findings of the study were published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.