Does Lack of Sleep Cause Dry Eye Problems?

The short answer is "yes"--dry eyes can be caused by lack of sleep. So there is a reason why your friends may ask you if you've rested when your eyes are dry and have the redness and itchiness that often accompanies this affliction. The thing is your lack of sleep by no means is a leading cause of dry eye. Leading medical institutions are quick to blame other factors for your dried-out eyes before they blame sleep, or lack thereof.

• Sleep is just one of many ways to prevent dry eye come morning.

Physiology

• The leading cause of dry eye is related to an impairment in how the tears are produced and, in some cases, the quality of the tears that are produced. Think of tears as the way your eyes get satiated, just as your dry skin may be satiated by lotion or your dry throat by water. Tears are made of three parts: water, mucus and oil, according to the Mayo Clinic. Too watery, and you don't get the lubrication your eyes need. Too little and, again, your eyes don't get the moisture needed to stave away the dry, red and itchy symptoms.

Blinking

• Blinking is very important to keep your eyes moisturized. That's why disorders that impact the eye lids, such as those where the lid doesn't function as it should, are so closely linked to dry eye. In addition, according to the Mayo Clinic, any time you use a lot of concentration to look at something, such as to read a book or to drive, you blink a lot less and, in turn, your eyes get dried out. That's why many times sleepiness is associated with dry eyes, because often you may be studying into the wee hours or driving during times when you're normally asleep and later suffer from dry eye--not so much directly because of lack of sleep but because of the reduction in your blink rate.

Environmental

• Before the issue of to sleep or not to sleep is even mentioned, Cleveland Clinic reports that there are plenty of other culprits that rob our eyes of moisture: air conditioners and a dry climate are the biggies. Weather conditions and surroundings can suck moisture from your corneas just as it might suck moisture from your skin.

Rest Connection

• Sleep is connected to the health of your eyes because it's a way to give your eyes a break from continued use throughout the day, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Think of sleep as a way to recharge your eyes and prepare them for the next day. When you don't get sleep, your eyes look and feel as tired as the rest of your body may feel.

Causes

• Other common causes include some diseases, like arthritis, as well as medications like birth control pills, according to Cooper Eye Care, a New York-based clinic. Also when we age, our tears just don't lubricate as much as they did when we were younger. Though somewhat exotic-sounding, it's believed that Omega-3 fats, like those found in oily fish such as salmon and in some nuts, can boost the moisture that fends off dry eye.