Your eyes are tired - get some sleep!
Sleep is one of the body’s most basic necessities. Study after study demonstrates the importance of sleep to our physical, mental and social health. But did you know that your eyes also benefit from the proper amount of sleep and that too little sleep can cause vision problems?
Experts recommend that adults get 7-9 hours of sleep in order to function properly and be well-rested. Studies have shown that at least 5 hours of sleep are needed for your eyes to renew themselves.
Sleep deprivation can set in when you get less than five hours of sleep each night. Vision problems resulting from sleep deprivation can be numerous and include dry eyes. Symptoms of dry eye disease can include red eyes, itchiness, blurriness and light sensitivity due to lack of tear production. Eyelid spasms, or myokymia, can also occur. The eyelid will spontaneously twitch, often distracting people from their work as a result. Aesthetic problems also occur with lack of sleep. Bags and dark circles can develop under the eyes and the whites of your eyes can become very red.
Give your body the rest it needs to recharge and be ready for the next day. Limit the amount of time on electronics before going to bed as the blue light can trick your body into thinking it's time to wake up. At the very least, put your phone or tablet into "night mode" to limit blue light exposure. While 5 hours is needed to renew your eyes, try to get at least 7 hours of sleep so that your whole body can refresh and replenish properly.
