Time to Say Good Night | Adequate Sleep Protects Your Eyesight 

Stayed up late again? You may reach for make-up and cooling masks to camouflage puffy eyes, red-rimmed eye lids, and the bags or dark circles under your eyes.

But that may not be enough. Missing out on sleep night after night not only affects your looks, but also your overall eye health.

Cosmetic touch-ups won’t relieve these, more serious side effects that can occur:

• Eye twitches or spasms
• Sensitivity to light
• Blurred vision
• Itching and redness
• Difficulty focusing
• Dry eyes
• Eye infections
• Glaucoma
• Partial or total vision loss

Why does lack of sleep lead to eye problems?

The eyes need enough zzz’s every night to rest and recover. Twitches and involuntary spasms of your eye, called myokymia, during the day are first signs that your eyes are not getting enough sleep for optimal eye health. While these symptoms don’t actually harm your vision, they are annoying and uncomfortable, and they could be harbingers of worse things to come.

It gets worse?

While you sleep, fluids circulate in your eyes to hydrate and clean them to protect against infections. If that lubrication process is continually cut short, your eyes don’t have the moisture and rest to perform at their best. You’ll probably notice eye strain or dry eyes, which can lead to eye pain, blurred vision and light sensitivity.

How bad can it get?

Glaucoma is a condition linked to sustained periods of inadequate sleep. Glaucoma is a result of too much pressure that builds up inside the eye and damages the optic nerves. Loss of peripheral or side vision is typically the first indication of glaucoma. If left untreated, it could lead to total vision loss.

Establish a healthy bedtime routine

Try not to lose sleep over these possible health outcomes. But do try to get enough rest every night. Adults are encouraged to aim for 7 or 7 ½ hours of sleep most nights.

Ideally, your bedroom should be quiet and dark and not too warm. Avoid exercising in the evening, except for a calming stroll. Turn off your digital devices at least one hour before tucking in so that the blue light emitted by the screens won’t fool your body into thinking it’s daylight. A very light, healthy snack of yogurt or some fruit before bedtime can fend off hunger pangs in the middle of the night, but stay away from heavy meals late in the evening.

Regular eye exams can put your mind at ease so you’re not tossing and turning at night. Check out our affordable vision plans and then plan your next appointment with an eye care provider.