You hear it all the time; sleep matters when it comes to all aspects of your health. That is true, too, even for often overlooked factors of your overall health and well-being like eye health. Like the rest of your body, your eyes benefit from regular, deep, and restorative sleep. Getting a full 7+ hours of sleep each night not only gives your eyes time to rest but it also plays a critical role in adequate lubrication of the eyes and the prevention of dry eye and other eye disorders.
Like sleep, another critical factor in your overall eye health is establishing care with a trusted optometrist and receiving regular, comprehensive eye exams. There’s no better place for eyecare in the Nashville area than Music City Optical, home to leading Nashville eye doctor, Connie James. Music City Optical cares uses cutting-edge technology to provide state-of-the-art service for our patients, including guidance on best practices for sleep, nutrition, and more to maintain optimal eye health.
Take the first step in maintaining your vision, and book a comprehensive eye exam at our Nashville Eye Clinic.
Why Sleep Matters For Your Eye Health
In the modern age, there’s an all-out assault on our sleep. Whether it’s working longer hours, being pulled in several different directions by work and family obligations, using phones, tv, and other personal devices at night, and general health conditions that can affect sleep, Americans are getting less and less sleep – and our health is paying for it. According to the CDC, 1 in 3 Americans doesn’t get an adequate amount of sleep. But why does sleep matter for your eye health?
Lack of sleep is one of the leading causes of dry eye today – and with an increasing amount of time spent on devices, which also contributes to dry and strained eyes – it’s easy to see the effect sleep has on our overall eye health. Blinking is an essential part of cleaning and lubricating eyes and requires adequate tear production to maintain healthy fluid levels throughout the day. Without restorative sleep, though, our bodies produce fewer tears, leading to dry eyes.
There’s also a new study that links poor sleep, whatever the cause, to Glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness. This is particularly true for patients with sleep apnea. Other issues that can affect your eye health due to lack of sleep include damage to your optic nerve, poor blood flow to your eyes, eye spasms, and eye strain.
Other Important Factors for Eye Health
In order to protect your eye health, you should aim to get at least seven hours of sleep per night. That’s a tall order for many, but with so many benefits stemming from quality sleep, it’s worth the effort! There are, of course, other things you can do to protect and improve your overall eye health, including making sure you incorporate a variety of healthy and nutrient-dense foods into your diet. You can read more about the best foods for eye health here.
If you’re concerned about your eye health, the best thing to do is schedule a comprehensive eye exam with our Nashville Optometrist. Book your appointment today!
