Poor Sleeping Habits: Can They Affect Vision and Eye Health?

With sufficient rest, you’ll have the energy to perform daily tasks and do activities that you enjoy. It rejuvenates your body and helps regulate your immune system and cognitive function. If you are well-rested, you stay more focused, alert and productive. Unfortunately, getting sufficient sleep is not easy for everyone.  

Read on to learn how poor sleeping habits affect vision and eye health. 

What Happens When You Don’t Get Enough Sleep?

People close their eyes when they sleep for various reasons. For one, it keeps the light out, allowing your brain to rest. It also helps keep your eyes from drying because your lids distribute tears across your eyes as you sleep. Moreover, you need at least five hours of sleep for your eyes to work well during the day.

You are more likely to experience eye strain when you don’t get sufficient sleep. Not sleeping enough can cause the eyes to feel dry and itchy, and burst blood vessels. Like any other part of your body, your eyes can also get exhausted at the end of the day. They work constantly, and they only get to recover when you’re asleep. Enough rest is essential for your eyes to function properly and remain lubricated.

What Are the Possible Consequences of Poor Sleeping Habits?

The apparent results of lack of sleep are dark circles and puffy eyes. However, poor sleeping habits go beyond your physical appearance. Eye spasms and twitches, blurred vision, light sensitivity and higher eye infection risk are some of their common consequences. Insufficient sleep can also increase the chances of dry eye syndrome, glaucoma and vision loss. 

Contact your local eye doctor immediately if you are experiencing eye pain or changes in your vision. At Insight Vision Center Optometry, we’re here to help with your vision and eye health needs. Call us at (714) 486-3315, or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.