Sleep and the Eyes
Sleep is an important aspect of general health. At GW Eye Associates, Dr. Gordon Wong and Dr. Wildon Wong discuss all kinds of wellness topics with patients, including how a good night’s sleep can lead to healthier eyes.
Our optometrists are proud to serve the La Jolla, Carmel Valley, and San Diego, CA areas. Below, our expert optometrists would like to consider the importance of sleep and how it affects your vision.
Resting Your Eyes
Our eyes work hard all day long, relaying a countless series of images to the brain. Constant use throughout the day strains our eyes and the muscles surrounding them.
We need at least five hours of rest a night to rejuvenate our eyes. Without proper sleep, our eyes can become dry. Dry eyes can lead to irritation and inflammation, as well as poor vision and function during the day.
Cosmetic Benefits
Have you ever had bags under your eyes after a bad night’s sleep? This is caused by the blood vessels from the eyes draining into the tissue below. This is also known as having “puffy eyes.”
Not getting enough sleep can also cause the blood vessels in your eyes to expand, causing your eyes to appear bloodshot.
Remove Contacts Before Bed
We recommend removing your contacts before falling asleep. While newer contact technology allows the corneas to breathe more, it is still better to remove contacts if possible before shutting your eyes for prolonged amounts of time.
With your contacts in, your eyes will dry out, potentially leading to infection. Get in the habit of removing your contacts before sleep, and your eyes will thank you.
Tips for Getting Better Sleep
Better sleep not only improves eye health, it enhances your overall quality of life.
At GW Eye Associates, we recommend the following suggestions for getting better sleep.
Avoid Blue Light at Night
When we use our phones, tablets, computers, or TVs, the constant bombardment of blue-tinted light tells our brains that it is still daytime. Consider minimizing use of devices before bedtime. We also recommend learning how to use a warm or orange filter on your devices as bedtime nears.
Follow a Regular Sleep Schedule
Keeping a regular sleep schedule can do wonders for your overall health. Our bodies naturally maintain our sleep schedule. Sticking with it and syncing up to your circadian rhythm can have enormous benefits to your overall sleep quality.
Meditate and Practice Self-Care
Meditating has many health benefits, one of which includes getting better sleep. We suggest calming your mind with a meditation app or breathing exercises.
Avoid Eating Before Bed
Avoiding eating around three hours before your bedtime. Falling asleep becomes much more difficult when your body is digesting food.
Keep Your Room Dark
Light can make it difficult for us to fall asleep. It can even affect our quality of sleep. The darker your bedroom is, the better the quality of sleep you will have.
Learn More About Your Eyes
If you still have any more questions about sleep and the eyes, the expert optometrists at GW Eye Associates would be happy to answer them. Go online to schedule an appointment or give us a call at (858) 454-4699.
