Chronic insomnia or just lack of sleep can cause or aggravate dry eye.

Dry Eyes, lack of sleep and insomnia

Eyes recover during sleep

A person who regularly lacks sleep can feel negative effects on his vision. The eyes are an organ of the body like any other part of the human body and need to rest and enjoy a restful sleep. The eyes can not withstand excessive stress and need rest. Depending on the sleeping debt, the visual focus may be altered.

Lack of sleep and red eyes

Red eyes are often due to irritation of the cornea and the conjunctiva. When you do not sleep enough, ocular fatigue encourages ocular redness. Although eye redness can mean many other things, it is certain that a person who does not sleep well is likely to have red eyes. If your eyes are red due to lack of sleep, take rest and try to give you sleep, but do not use whitening or anti-redness drops that contain a vasoconstrictor.

Vasoconstrictions of the blood vessels in the eye

In the long term, these products will only exacerbate your eye redness problem. Indeed, drops specifically designed to clear eye redness could make the problem worse. These drops contain vasoconstrictors, chemicals that greatly shrink the blood vessels on the surface of your eye. If you use it regularly or too often, your body will begin to get used to and become more resistant to these substances, which will make your eyes even more red as the effect of these products will disappear.

On the other hand, a cold compress can help reduce the redness of the eye. The cold tightens the blood vessels and diminishes the symptoms of the stinging eyes, irritated eyes, tired eyes, swollen eyes.

Check with your doctor if eye redness persists

If ocular redness persists, it may not be due solely to lack of sleep. In this case, you should quickly consult your healthcare professional because red eyes can be the symptom of several eye diseases.

Dry Eyes and lack of sleep

If you suffer from dry eye, it is certain that a lack of sleep would only amplify your symptoms of dry eye syndrome. Sleep is the time when your eyes take rest and prepare for the next day. It is therefore important, in your fight against dry eye, to ensure you have enough sleep. In addition, to have a deep and restful sleep, make sure to sleep in a dark place since darkness activates the secretions that promote sleep. Some people will use a night mask to assure their eyes the darkness necessary for a good sleep. If you sleep in broad daylight, then a mask is very desirable for the same reasons.

What if your eyes that do not close completely during your sleep ?

If your eyes do not close tightly at night while you sleep, they will become abnormally dry. See the post DRY EYE AT NIGHT for more information about this topic.

Breaking the bad cycle of insomnia

Most human beings will experience sleep disorders at some point in their lives. Insomnia is a difficulty falling asleep, disturbed sleep, premature awakening, difficulty falling asleep or fatigue during the day, especially during the boring moments.

How do we know if we have slept enough?

The need for sleep can vary greatly from one person to another. On average, a healthy adult needs about eight hours of sleep per night. However, some people will only need about six hours of sleep to do their normal work during the day, while others will have to sleep around ten.

If you have difficulty remaining vigilant during the day or if your tiredness is obvious (yawning, difficulty keeping your eyes open, etc.), you are lacking in sleep or your sleep is not restorative.

What causes insomnia?

Insomnia may be attributable to different events in life. Its main cause is a change in the daily routine (travel, new job, move, post-traumatic stress, etc.). Normally, insomnia related to the events of life should not last for several days. When the stressful event is over, we should find the sleep we are used to without too much difficulty. Some medications can also cause insomnia. If necessary, consult your pharmacist.

If insomnia lasts longer, this may be a more serious problem. Chronic insomnia can be related to depression or anxiety, or other causes. If your insomnia lasts more than a few days, it is better to consult your doctor. Insomnia of this type may require special treatment or questioning of its cause.

What measures should be taken to prevent insomnia?

• Try to sleep at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning, including the weekend.
• Adopt a routine that helps you relax before you go to bed; For example, take a hot bath, read a book or listen to soft music.
• Make sure your environment is dark, quiet, not too hot or too cold.
• Use your bedroom to sleep only. Do not use electronic devices in your bed since the light emitted by these devices does not promote good sleep.
• You should have your last meal two to three hours before bedtime.
• Exercise regularly, but not just before you go to bed.
• Avoid products that contain caffeine such as coffee, teas, soft drinks and chocolates in the evening.
• Stop smoking or decrease your cigarette in the evening because nicotine can affect the quality of your sleep.
• Alcohol just before bedtime can also disrupt your sleep.

Lack of sleep is a serious problem and can have detrimental effects on the entire body, but fortunately there are techniques to help you have a restful sleep. A night of sleep of 7 to 10 hours more or less without interruption is for you a difficult thing to reach? Consider making changes to your lifestyle – changes that ultimately will be very beneficial to your health.