After a poor night’s sleep, it’s common to look in the mirror and notice that you have tired eyes. The truth is that sleep plays an important role not only for your eyes, but also for overall health. If you are working to improve your health, then it’s essential that you prioritize sleep.
When you close your eyes at night, it’s an important opportunity for the eyes to rest and recover after all of the activities of the day. Sleeping also helps with replenishing the moisture in your eyes, which is why you might experience dry eye symptoms after a short night.
Not only do you feel lower energy after not sleeping enough, but there are many ways that your eyes might be affected after a poor night of sleep:
Most of these symptoms are minor and only slightly uncomfortable, but they don’t affect your overall vision and eye health. If you are experiencing these symptoms, then it’s likely that they will go away after you get caught up on sleep.
If you have chronic sleep deprivation, then there is an association with a higher risk of glaucoma because of the way that sleep deprivation changes intraocular pressure. Additionally, poor sleep can cause certain eye conditions to worsen over time, such as eye strain and dry eyes.
Other sleep problems can also contribute to eye issues. For example, if you have untreated obstructive sleep apnea, then it might lead to optic nerve damage or floppy eyelid syndrome over time.
The best approach to protect your eyes and your overall health is to make sure that you are aiming for 7-9 hours of quality sleep. Protect your bedtime and maintain a routine so that you are sleeping enough every night.
One way to improve your quality of sleep is by reducing screen time before bed. Turn off the screens at least an hour or two before you plan to sleep. Also, use blackout curtains and turn off electronics so that you are sleeping in a dark room.
Your eyes are working hard throughout the day, and even when you are sleeping at night. If you are experiencing any eye symptoms, they may be related to poor sleep habits or other eye conditions. Make sure to talk to our team about these issues at your next appointment.
To schedule an appointment, contact our team at Temecula Creek Optometry: (951) 302 -1331.