Affects of Lack of Sleep On Your Vision

by EyeLASIK | Mar 26, 2014 | Eye LASIK

If you’re tired right now, you’re not alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds more than 40 million Americans get fewer than 6 hours of sleep per night.

Lack of Sleep and Your Vision:

With the increasing speed and stress of modern life, finding time for rest and a good night’s sleep is more important than ever. Without enough sleep the body can struggle to function properly, including the eyes, making daily tasks more difficult and leaving you more exhausted. Even when you’re relaxing, such as watching television or reading, your eyes are still working hard. Getting some shut-eye is really the only time your eyes have to rest and restore.

Symptoms of No Sleep:

One of the common giveaways of insufficient sleep is dark circles under the eyes, however, a lack of sleep, particularly over time, can have a more serious impact on the health of your eyes. Research has shown that your eyes need at least five hours sleep each night to allow for effective recovery from the day’s activities. One common side effect of lack of sleep is eye spasms. Eye spasms are defined as involuntary eye twitches that occur when you have a spasm in your eyelid. These involuntary spasms are known as myokymia. Eye spasms should not be painful or do damage to your vision; however, they can be very aggravating and disruptive. Avoid eye spasms by making sure you get an adequate amount of sleep per night.

Over time, lack of sleep can lead to serious ramifications on your vision including popped blood vessels due to eye strain. Additionally, a shortage of sleep can cause dry eye, a condition when tears do not adequately lubricate your eyes. When dry eye sets in you can experience some pain, light sensitivity, itching, redness or even blurred vision. If you find that you are having a difficult time falling asleep at night, there are various options for remedying the situation. One thing you can do is to try drinking a cup of chamomile tea shortly before you plan to go to bed. This is a great way to relax before sleep. Another method that works for many people is reading a book in bed. You will likely find yourself getting drowsy, and then you can simply shut off the lights and fall asleep.

Remember that your eyes are kept busy all day long doing their job, and sleeping is the only time that they really get a break. Make sure that they get the rest they deserve by making enough shut-eye a priority!

Eye LASIK Midland offers a new approach to laser vision correction – allowing patients to work with the primary eye doctor they’ve known for years. This means the patient’s optometrist performs all the work preceding the laser procedure, as well as all the follow-up visits. With Eye LASIK Midland, patients receive premium care from all the doctors they know and trust. Claim your complimentary consultation here or by clicking the image below. Better vision can be yours!

Digital Eye Strain in the Technology Age

by EyeLASIK | Mar 19, 2014 | Eye LASIK

With the advent of smartphones, Kindles and iPads, we are constantly bombarded with technology. Our eyes are almost always staring at a computer or TV screen. Consequently, eye strain has become a chronic problem for many people.

Symptoms Of Digital Eye Strain

In order to help prevent eye strain caused by the use of digital devices, you should know what the symptoms are. Some of the more common symptoms include:

• Burning or itching
• Tearing
• Sensation of something in the eyes
• Blurry or cloudy vision
• A “pulling” sensation in the eyes
• Headaches that start after reading or being on a computer for longer than 15 minutes

Eye strain can be caused by a number of factors. Because you don’t blink regularly when reading of using a computer, the eyes can dry out causing burning, itching, and tearing as well as cloudy or blurry vision.

A pulling sensation can be caused by having prescription glasses that are not right or need to be updated, causing the eyes to overwork in an attempt to keep things focused. An incorrect prescription can also cause headaches.

Avoiding Digital Eye Strain

But you can avoid eye strain caused by computers and other technology. Some of the easiest ways to do this include:

• Taking Breaks: About every 45 to 60 minutes, take a break. Either get up from your computer screen and walk around, or simply focus on something off in the distance for a few minutes. Looking at an object in the distance helps relax the muscles of the eye that do all of the focusing.
• Using Artificial Tears: When you take your break, put a drop of a good artificial tear in each eye to help prevent them from drying out. You can also put drops in every 15 minutes while working if your eyes are particularly dry. Blinking more frequently will also help moisturize the eyes.
• Having Your Glasses Checked: If you start to notice a pulling sensation, or if you start having headaches in the afternoon, get your prescription checked by your optometrist or ophthalmologist. You may need a change. If you’re over 45, you may need reading glasses.

Adding an Anti-Reflective Coating: Glare from your computer screen or iPad can cause your eyes to become overworked. Consider adding an anti-reflective coating to your glasses or computer screen.

At Eye Lasik Midland, we’re in the business of healthy eyes. That’s why we use the most advanced technology in laser vision correction. Want to know more? Claim your free consultation here.