If you suffer from tired eyes, eye bags, or other symptoms and wonder, “Can lack of sleep cause vision problems?” this article is for you.
So, can lack of sleep cause vision problems? Yes, lack of sleep can cause vision problems and even headaches, but few know the connection with eye spasms and even the tendency to glaucoma and type 2 diabetes.
Lack of sleep can lead to a number of health problems, including vision problems. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body doesn’t have time to repair itself, affecting your eye health.
Sleep disorders affect thousands of people around the world and cause symptoms throughout the body. To understand how sleep can affect vision health and begin care as soon as possible, check out this blogpost.
Can lack of sleep cause vision problems?
There are several reasons why sleep interferes with the proper functioning of the body, not to mention how a lack of sleep affects vision.
The first is that sleep is important to allow the body to repair itself and recover from any damage it has done during the day. If a person does not get enough sleep, their eyes will not have a chance to fully recover and this can lead to problems with vision.
In addition, sleep also helps keep your eyes hydrated and healthy. When you don’t get enough sleep, your eyes can become dry and irritated, causing pain and discomfort.
Studies show that an average adult should sleep at least 5 hours per night, but the ideal is between 7 and 7 and a half hours. But don’t worry about this number if it’s not your reality, there are some practices – like sleep hygiene and supplements – that can help you get a good night’s sleep.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, an estimated 50-70 million American adults have a sleep disorder. Imagine how many eye problem symptoms each of these people deal with every day that could be resolved with a good night’s sleep?
Symptoms of vision problems due to sleep deprivation
Symptoms of vision problems due to sleep deprivation are numerous and common. However, few people know they are related to sleep health and look for solutions in other areas.
Understanding what these symptoms are and the best way to resolve them can greatly improve your day at work, leisure, and other activities. After all, who hasn’t had several cups of coffee to stay awake?
But know that no caffeine can inhibit the signs of lack of sleep, only restorative sleep. So take care of your sleep before severe sleep deprivation appears, because it can lead to even bigger and often irreversible problems.
You don’t know what these symptoms are? so check the list below with important data about these characteristics and comment if you have faced any of them:
Dry Eyes
If you’re not getting enough sleep, you may be at risk for dry eyes. Sleep deprivation can lead to a decrease in tear production, which can in turn cause dryness and irritation.
Dry eyes also contribute to itching, redness and sensitivity to light. This condition can disrupt simple tasks and cause uncontrollable sleep, the body’s mechanism for you to rest your eyes and hydrate them.
Sensitivity to Light
Light sensitivity is the most common symptom associated with sleep deprivation. With this sensitivity, it is impossible to carry out day-to-day tasks such as using a mobile phone and computer, in addition to being bothered by the glare of the sun and environments with artificial light.
This symptom causes irritation, itching and redness and is considered a problem of tired eyes, according to Webmd. The most interesting thing is that it can be caused by a lack of sleep, but other common causes are: Excessive reading, driving for many hours in contact with bright lights or repetitive tasks, such as writing and contact with blue light.
Eye floaters
When you don’t get enough sleep, your body isn’t able to repair itself as well as it should. This can lead to a build-up of debris in your eyes, which can then cause floaters.
Eye floaters are the result of eye fatigue. A prolonged lack of sleep puts stress on the eyes, which is one of the early symptoms and can lead to affect eye health. Therefore, it is important to relax the eyes and get enough rest and sleep to heal.
Eye pressure and the risky of glaucoma
Glaucoma is one of the symptoms of sleep deprivation and is characterized by eye pressure, which can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss. If left untreated, the worsening of glaucoma can reach alarming levels, and sleep deprivation can cause total blindness.
So if you feel pressure at the back of your eye, it’s important to look after your eye health and review your sleeping habits. Because in addition, it is possible to get type 2 diabetes due to a lack of sufficient rest, which generates more diseases that can remove all vision.
Blurry vision in one or both eyes
Blurry vision is one of the most annoying symptoms of insomnia, which occurs when the eyes work longer hours than they should without proper rest. When this happens, the eyes become dehydrated by not blinking enough, leading to blurred vision, according to the Better Health Channel.
It is also common for it to only affect one eye as it is the body that starts the signals that it needs rest, so listen to your body. Lack of sleep can also cause vision distortion, which, like blurred vision, is caused by lack of sleep.
The difference between these characteristics is the degree of change in what is seen. In dim vision, you see blurred spots instead of sharp strokes or clear objects; In distorted vision, it is even possible to exchange objects or letters – which is often confused with myopia.
Eye Spasms (Twitching)
Yes, lack of sleep can cause eye strain. However, this symptom no longer brings serious problems to the health of the eyes, but causes great annoyance. According to the AOA, lack of sleep can put a lot of stress on certain eye muscles, causing involuntary movements.
Twitching, or myokymia, can occur at any time of the day and is a warning of constant strain on the eyes. This sign can cause other symptoms, such as dry and light-sensitive eyes.
It is during sleep that the fluids necessary for eye health are produced, and when this does not happen, we reduce the eye’s protection against infection and unfortunately cooperate for the next day with tired vision.
Bags under the eyes
Bags under the eyes are common over the years due to the loss of muscles that support the eyelids, but it can also be expected from the lack of adequate sleep.
This symptom is caused by high fluid retention in the area, something that correlates with poor sleep. Therefore, a calm and restful sleep is indicated following some sleep hygiene habits.
How can I sleep better to improve my eyesight?
Sleep is critical to good health and well-being, but for many people, the question is How can I sleep better to improve my eyesight? And for that, some specific care is needed, focused on sleep health in conjunction with eye health.
A few simple changes in your sleep habits can make a big difference. First, try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. This will help regulate your body’s natural sleep rhythm and in a few days even your eye will start to close at the given time.
Second, create a relaxing bedtime routine to help you calm down before bedtime. This can include reading, taking a bath, or stretching. These habits are part of sleep hygiene and we have more detailed content to help you.
Third, take care of your eyes during the day as well! Try to balance the use of screens and opt for glasses with lenses that protect from blue light. Furthermore, diet makes all the difference; fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants and help vision health. Foods rich in vitamin A, such as liver, are also good for vision health.
If you are struggling to get enough sleep, making some changes in your habits and taking supplements can help you get the rest you need. Getting enough quality sleep is important for good health, so don’t hesitate to make some changes to improve your sleep.
Nutraceuticals can also help you sleep better
As we have seen, a good night’s restful sleep is essential for a day ahead with good vision. However, falling asleep is not an easy task for everyone, but luckily there are nutrients that can also help you sleep better.
Nutraceuticals are science-based dietary supplements that contain nutrients essential for good health. They can be taken in pill form or as a powder that you add to your food or drink. They are effective in many areas, including sleep.
Some of the most effective nutrients to support you in sleep are: Magnesium, Zembrin, Passionflower and Omega-3.
- Magnesium is a mineral involved in more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It is also known for its natural calming and relaxing properties, making it a good choice for those who have trouble sleeping. In addition, magnesium supplementation can also help improve sleep quality, increase sleep duration and reduce the number of night awakenings.
- Zembrin is an herbal extract that has been shown by studies to improve sleep quality. It is traditionally used to reduce anxiety and promote the relaxation needed to induce sleep.
- Passion flower is another herbal extract that can help reduce anxiety and promote sleep. This supplement is thought to work by increasing levels of a chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain – GABA is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate nerve impulses.
- Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid that our body cannot produce, but needs for various functions. Among the benefits of omega 3 supplementation is increased sleep quality. Studies show that people who take omega-3 supplements have better sleep quality and feel more rested when they wake up. In addition, this supplement can help reduce symptoms of depression, which can also negatively affect sleep.
Now you know the relationship between sleep and eye health and how important it is! Fortunately, sleep hygiene can help us, even more in conjunction with supplementation, a natural and scientifically proven solution.