Eye Health and Sleep: Eyes in Top Shape?

The relationship between eye health and sleep is often underestimated in a trend that places more emphasis on productivity. Yet, these two elements are closely related and play a crucial role in maintaining healthy vision. Let's explore the nuances of this relationship together and discover how quality sleep can have a significant impact on our eye health.

The impact of lack of sleep on eye health

During sleep, like our entire body, the eyes have the opportunity to rest and recover from the attacks suffered throughout the day. This period of rest allows eye cells to regenerate, promoting better eye health. Conversely, chronic lack of sleep can hinder the natural regeneration process and lead to eye fatigue, symptoms such as dry eye, or even worsen pre-existing conditions such as macular degeneration . It is therefore imperative to prioritize quality sleep for the general well-being of the eyes.

Lack of sleep has several consequences on the eyes and vision in general. Depending on the person, a chronic lack of sleep can cause, in addition to those seen above, several problems:

• Blurred vision
• Red eyes
• Photophobia
• Myokymia (eyelid fluttering)

In the long term, sleep disorders can accelerate the risk of contracting glaucoma and/or ischemic optic neuropathy. Indeed, like the eyes, the optic nerve and the vascular system also need to rest for optimal functioning. However, a chronic lack of sleep (less than 5 hours per night on average) promotes the appearance of these symptoms.

Influence of Screens and Blue Light on Sleep and Sight

We know that screens, omnipresent in our modern daily lives, emit harmful blue light. This light, similar to natural sunlight, disrupts our circadian cycle, impacting the production of melatonin, the hormone regulating sleep. This disruption of the circadian rhythm leads to sleep disturbances and negatively affects eye health. This overexposure to blue light, particularly among young people, is very worrying, because it is associated with both eye fatigue, but also headaches and vision problems. Reducing screen use before bed or using blue light filters can help reduce these harmful effects on sleep and vision.

Unfortunately, we see that the trend is rather the opposite, since our screens are everywhere with us, even in our beds. It is therefore difficult to be optimistic on this point.

How to improve eye health through sleep?

To promote healthy vision and quality sleep, adopting good practices is essential. Creating an environment conducive to sleep by decreasing exposure to bright light before bed can improve sleep quality and, in turn, eye health. It is recommended to consult an eye care professional regularly to detect any early eye problems. Additionally, taking regular breaks from screen use and practicing eye relaxation exercises can help reduce visual fatigue. These simple tips can have a significant impact on your overall eye health and the quality of your sleep.

Eye health and sleep are two inseparable pillars of our well-being. By becoming aware of their correlation and adopting healthy habits, we can preserve our eyes and benefit from quality sleep. These simple actions can greatly impact our overall well-being. This holistic approach to health, taking into account the close relationship between eye health and sleep, is a valuable investment in our quality of life.