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You already know a poor night’s sleep causes you to feel groggy, fatigued, and sluggish all day. In addition to impacting your coffee consumption, some research suggests sleep quality also impacts your eye health. To bolster your eye care routine, aim for a full night’s sleep. Here’s what you need to know about the link between vision and shuteye.     

Eye Care 101: Are You Getting Enough Shuteye? 

Day-to-Day Impacts

Some doctors think your eyes need at least five hours of sleep for optimal health. While you sleep, the muscles in your eyes—just like those in the rest of your body—relax and recharge. 

eye careBased on anecdotal evidence, eye doctors also think those who sleep less than five or six hours a night are more likely to experience eye spasms called myokymia, which may temporarily distort their vision. Lack of sleep may also lead to irritation, soreness, dryness, and excessive tear production, as well as making the eyes more sensitive to light. Staring at a computer screen all day or driving for long periods can exacerbate the issue, leading to diminished vision. 

Long-Term Effects

A few nights of poor sleep every now and then may not have a major impact on your long-term eye health. However, if you consistently fail to get enough shuteye, you may experience more severe consequences, including popped blood vessels. With persistent strain from insufficient sleep, the eyes’ vessels become more susceptible to bursting.

Additionally, researchers found a link between glaucoma and sleep apnea. Those diagnosed with the disruptive sleep disorder are 1.67 times more likely to develop glaucoma, which can lead to vision distortion and even blindness. While scientists still haven’t established a causal relationship between the two conditions, there may be more to eye health and sleep quality than meets the eye. 

 

To maintain strong, healthy eyes and clear vision, look to the experts from Wing Eyecare in Cincinnati, OH, and Newport, KY. For over a century, the family-owned and -operated business has provided the quality exams, glasses, and advanced services patients need for a lifetime of health. To learn more about the eye care team, visit the website. You may also speak with a friendly professional by calling them at (888) 274-9464.

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