Not getting enough sleep could make you go blind, study shows

Insufficient sleep, snoring and daytime sleepiness could make you prone to getting glaucoma. A large-scale research shows a link between some common unhealthy sleep patterns and increased risk of the disease which is a leading cause of blindness. It is estimated that some 112 million people could be diagnosed with glaucoma in the next 20 years.

The study

The study, led by scientists from Beijing, China studied data on sleeping behaviours collected from 409,053 people from a UK Biobank all aged between 40 and 69 at the time of recruitment (2006-2010). The researchers then analysed the information on sleep patterns alongside background information such as sex, age, lifestyle, location and ethnicity.

After a 10-year monitoring period, 8,690 cases of glaucoma were identified. Some of the common traits of the participants who had the disease include old age, sex (many were more likely to be male). Smokers, diabetics and hypertensive patients also showed an increased risk of glaucoma, according to the findings published in the journal, BMJ Open. Certain sleep patterns were also found to be associated with the disease.

Snoring, daytime sleepiness, insomnia, and short/long duration, individually or jointly, were all associated with the risk of glaucoma.

Sleep intervention

The scientists say the study underscored the need for adopting and maintaining healthy sleep patterns and behaviours. They are also hopeful that these findings will support the importance of sleep therapy among people found to be at high risk of glaucoma. It should also encourage regular eye checks in people with chronic sleep disorders to check for early signs of glaucoma.

These findings underscore the need for sleep intervention for individuals at high risk of glaucoma as well as potential ophthalmologic screening among individuals with chronic sleep problems for glaucoma prevention.

The study was funded by the National Science Foundation of China.

Sources used:

The Independent: Lack of sleep could make you go blind, new study warns

Sky News: Not getting enough sleep 'could increase risk of irreversible eyesight loss'

The Guardian: Study reveals link between sleep problems and glaucoma