How are your eyes affected by sleep?
We all know that getting enough sleep is essential to staying healthy and alert, but have you ever wondered what a lack of it can do to your eyes?
Sleep is restorative for all parts of the body, including cognition and immune function. Getting enough sleep helps you stay alert, your body is better able to fight infections, and it gives your eyes the moisture and rest they need to stay alive.
Let's look at how sleep can affect your eyes and give you tips on how to get your hours of sleep more effectively.
What do your eyes do when you sleep?
There is a stage in our sleep cycle called rapid eye movement (REM). During REM sleep, our eyes move rapidly behind the eyelids and the body remains still. It is at this stage that we dream. It is not yet known why our eyes move so much and so quickly during this stage, but some believe it may be because we are watching scenes in our dreams.
Why do our eyes hurt if we don't get enough sleep?
If you don't get enough sleep, your eyes can be tight, dry and itchy the next day. Sleep deprivation can cause excessive strain on the eyes, burst blood vessels and dry eyes. Our eyes see many different things during the day. After a day of going to different places, doing different tasks, it is important that your eyes get enough rest every night. Getting enough sleep will give your eyes the moisture they need throughout the night to function properly during the day.
Can contact lenses be left in at night?
Some contact lenses are designed for long-term wear and can be worn overnight, but the specific brand should be prescribed for you by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
In general, however, you should not go to bed with your contact lenses on. Sleeping with contact lenses on will prevent oxygen from reaching your eyes at night, which can cause dryness and irritation. Always remove your lenses before going to bed.
Why do some people sleep with their eyes open?
People who sleep with their eyes open usually have damaged eyebrows or eyelids. This condition is not harmful, but it can cause eye health problems. At night, open eyes become very dry because they are not covered by eyelids to help tears form on the surface of the eyes.
If you have sore eyes in the morning or throughout the day, it is advisable to use a soothing antibacterial eye gel such as Blephagel 30, which is specially formulated to prevent eye sores. If symptoms persist, it is wisest to visit an eye specialist to find out the cause of the eye problem and then treat it.
How do I rest properly?
Sleep plays an important role in our overall health. Despite this, many people choose not to attach importance to rest. The human body needs at least 6 hours of rest to fully recover. If you have trouble sleeping, here are some tips on how to sleep more and more efficiently:
1. Try to get as much sun exposure as possible during the day.
Try to get as much sunlight as possible as much as possible. This will also improve the quality of your sleep in the evenings. You can take a walk outside at work during your lunch break or use a daylight lamp while sitting at your desk.
2. Reduce your exposure to light (and digital screens) for at least 2 hours before bedtime.
Just as it's good to be in the sun as much as possible during the day, the opposite rule applies in the evening. You should reduce light levels as much as possible at least 2 hours before bedtime, because the blue glow of digital screens can prevent you from falling asleep later. This makes your body think it's still in day mode and that you should stay awake. In the evening, try listening to a pocket sounder or reading a book, or using a light bulb instead of the main light.
3 No matter what time you go to bed, just wake up at the same time every day (as much as possible).
A regular night routine will help you sleep better, as your body will get used to it and will automatically start to get tired at a certain time. After a while of experimenting with this routine, you may notice that you wake up just before you wake up. Even if you don't always manage to stick to your routine, try to do it as much as you can. A regular sleep routine is essential for good health.
4. Avoid drinking alcohol at night.
Although drinking alcohol helps you to fall asleep, your sleep is often very light and of poor quality. This is one of the reasons why people tend to feel so tired if too much alcohol was consumed the night before. Drinking alcohol in moderation is normal, but just make sure it doesn't happen before you go to bed.
5. Weigh wearing an eye mask (while sleeping).
Especially in the summer months, when it gets very light in the early mornings, an eye mask can help to block out the light. Light wakes your body up, so if your eyes are exposed to light too early in the morning, you'll wake up before you're ready, resulting in poorer quality sleep. If eye masks aren't your thing, you could also try blackout blinds.
A good night's sleep and a certain number of hours of sleep are essential for a good lifestyle, so be good and take care of yourself. If you haven't yet managed to establish a good sleep routine, follow these tips and you'll avoid a number of health and eye problems in the future.
Material used:
How Sleep Affects Your Eyes (September 2019). Retrieved on December 20, 2019, fromhttps://www.feelgoodcontacts.com/blog/how-sleep-affects-your-eyes
