{"id":20719,"date":"2023-07-25T12:18:53","date_gmt":"2023-07-25T17:18:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?p=20719"},"modified":"2024-05-22T10:05:23","modified_gmt":"2024-05-22T15:05:23","slug":"how-does-eye-health-affect-sleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/how-does-eye-health-affect-sleep\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does Eye Health Affect Sleep?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sleep is good for the entire body<\/span><\/a>, including your eyes. Dr. Michael Twery, a sleep expert at News in Health, says sleep can impact all of the tissue in our bodies because of the effect it has on \u201cgrowth and stress hormones, our immune system, appetite, breathing, blood pressure and cardiovascular health.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Although one night of bad sleep won\u2019t lead to long-term health issues, chronic sleep issues may start to affect all aspects of your well-being, including your eye health. Let\u2019s dive into the specific impacts and how you can prevent them from occurring in the first place.<\/span><\/p>\n

What eye problems are associated with poor sleep quality?<\/span><\/h2>\n

From dry eye and infections to more serious problems like glaucoma, not getting enough quality sleep can cause the following issues for your eye health.<\/span><\/p>\n

Glaucoma<\/span><\/p>\n

Glaucoma, a disease in which the optic nerve is damaged and patients experience vision loss, can be <\/span>caused by irregular sleeping habits<\/span><\/a>. Researchers in a 2022 study found the internal pressure of the eye rises when a person goes to sleep if they have a sleep disorder such as insomnia, damaging the optic nerve and leading to glaucoma.<\/span><\/p>\n

This study also estimated that glaucoma will grow to 111.8 million people by 2040 according to current estimations. This growth can be attributed to a large range of factors, but if people currently leave sleep disorders to continue without treatment, glaucoma will continue to grow as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dry eye<\/span><\/p>\n

Dry eye disease (DED)<\/span><\/a> occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears or when the tears evaporate too quickly. It can be caused by poor sleep quality, as the eyes produce tears to keep them moist and lubricated when we sleep. Therefore, if you\u2019re not getting enough sleep during the night or restless sleep, your eyes will have less time to lubricate themselves. Even those with sleep disorders such as sleep apnea may have an increased risk of <\/span>developing dry eye symptoms<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Infections<\/span><\/p>\n

Sleep deprivation can compromise immune health and tear production, putting you at risk of eye infections. During sleep, our bodies produce and release cytokines \u2014 the proteins that regulate the <\/span>immune system<\/span><\/a> and fight off infection. In a 2017 study, researchers found that the production of these cytokines correlates with <\/span>the number of hours a person sleeps a night<\/span><\/a>. Therefore, if you sleep less at night, you\u2019ll produce fewer cytokines, increasing your likelihood of developing an infection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adequate sleep allows the body to produce and release the cytokines needed to fight off eye infections like conjunctivitis and pink eye, helping maintain a healthy balance of immune components in tears.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to get better sleep and protect your eyes<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re not getting adequate sleep, there are several steps you can take to sleep better and keep your eyes protected. When you incorporate exercise and a balanced diet into your routine and are consistent about it, you\u2019re better able to <\/span>protect your eyesight<\/span><\/a>. Additionally, staying on top of existing eye issues you may have can make treating them easier.<\/span><\/p>\n

Exercise<\/span><\/p>\n

The American Heart Association says <\/span>exercise helps to reduce stress<\/span><\/a>, anxiety and depression \u2014 all of which can contribute to poor sleep. <\/span>Physical activity also makes the time you\u2019re asleep more restful<\/span><\/a> and decreases the amount of time it takes you to fall asleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, exercising \u2014 no matter the time of day \u2014 can be beneficial. For example, if you <\/span>exercise in the morning<\/span>, you\u2019ll have more alertness and energy throughout the day. However, exercising in the afternoon or early evening can relieve the stress and tension that you built during the day.<\/span><\/p>\n

That being said, many experts recommend <\/span>avoiding high-intensity exercises one hour<\/span><\/a> before you plan on going to sleep, as it can leave you feeling more energized.<\/span><\/p>\n

Diet<\/span><\/p>\n

Certain foods, such as caffeine or sugar, can disrupt the natural sleep cycle and make it more difficult to fall and stay asleep. If you avoid these foods and instead maintain a balanced and nutritious diet, you\u2019ll be more likely to regulate your sleep patterns and gain some restful sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tweaking your diet can also help you sleep better<\/span><\/a>. By avoiding the following before bed, you can avoid stimulating the brain and help your body sleep better:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n