Believe it or not, poor sleep can affect vision

30 June 2022

Sleep and rest are essential for human health, so getting the right amount of sleep translates into a good quality of life. However, there are many sleep disorders that can interfere with various aspects of our health, including vision.

According to a study conducted by the Institute of Ocular Micrology (IMO), people who sleep less than six hours a day report lower quality of vision than those who sleep seven hours or more. Lack of sleep causes symptoms of ocular discomfort, such as:

• increased sensitivity to light
• foreign body or gritty sensation
• eye discomfort
• difficulty in performing daily tasks, such as reading and using screens.

Dry eyes or dry eye can affect rest, as it can cause eye discomfort that makes it difficult to sleep properly. That is why it is important to be alert if you suffer from this condition, to be treated in due time and not be affected the hours of sleep.

We must keep in mind that sleep is regenerative and restorative for most of our organs, and the eyes are not out of the list. During sleep the ocular surface rests and the cellular regeneration necessary for the tears to lubricate properly takes place.

In another order, we find sleep apnea syndrome, a disorder that causes pauses in breathing, which can last seconds or even minutes. This disorder could be linked to ocular pathologies such as glaucoma.