Eye-Opening Mornings: Sleep Your Way to Lubricated Eyes

Waking up well rested and energized sets the tone for a great day. But for some, mornings come with a less-than-pleasant surprise — dry and irritated eyes. With winter’s cold, dry air into the mix, the eyes might be crying out (figuratively and literally) for relief from dry eye symptoms.

Fortunately, with simple pre-bedtime habits, feeling the difference is within reach.

Sleep and Eyes

Albert Einstein once quoted, “We sleep 1/3 of our lives away”. While there is no magic number for the hours of sleep to get each night that could apply broadly to all, it is true that sleep takes a significant portion of the day.

Sleep is a time of repair and renewal for the body, including for the eyes. During sleep, the eyes undergo restoring, flush out toxins, and recover from strains. The eyelids play a critical role in this process by covering the surface of the eye to protect and hydrate the eyes. They help to lock in moisture and shield the eyes from environmental irritants. [1]

But, various factors can interfere with this process and cause dry eyes upon waking. Environmental conditions, lifestyle habits, and even incomplete seal of the eyelids may all contribute to the unpleasant experience in the morning. Let’s explore what could be contributing to dry eye symptoms during sleep.

Sleep position

Surprisingly, sleep position may have an effect on dry eye symptoms. A study of dry eye patients showed that patients who sleep on their side or face down have significantly more severe dry eye than those sleeping on their backs. To reduce dry eye symptoms in the morning, sleeping on the back may be of help. [2]

Sleeping pills

Having trouble with sleeping at night may be an initiative to take sleeping pills, but what is not readily known is that sleeping pills may also cause dry eye. These medications unintentionally affect the lacrimal glands that produce tears and provide moisture. [3] Waking up from sleep after taking the pills could present dry eye symptoms in the morning.

Lagophthalmos

Ever heard of nocturnal lagophthalmos? It’s when there is an incomplete closure of the eye lids during sleep. [4] While nocturnal lagophthalmos might sound uncommon, approximately 1 in every 5 people sleep with their eyes open, according to the National Sleep Foundation in the U.S. [5] The partial opening leaves the eyes vulnerable to dryness. In fact, dry eye patients with nocturnal lagophthalmos are more likely to experience severe dry eye symptoms, especially upon waking, along with a noticeable impact on sleep quality. [6]

Dry Winter/Cold Conditions

Notorious Canadian winter is no friend to the eyes. Cold, dry air outside and heated indoor environments strip moisture away. [7] Combined with other potential contributors, winter can leave the eyes feeling even more uncomfortable and dry every morning than before.

Bedtime Relief of Dry Eye Symptoms

Prior to bedtime, a combination of environmental adjustments and treatments may help relieve the eyes overnight and your eyes feeling moisturized.

• Create a Humid Environment: Use a humidifier in the bedroom to combat dry indoor air. 

• Wear Sleeping Masks: Soft sleeping masks or moisture-sealing goggles can shield the eyes and help retain moisture. 

• Avoid Direct Heating: Position the bed away from heating vents or radiators prevents dry air blowing directly on the face during sleep.

  
  

For optimal nighttime relief, preservative-free lubricating eye drops and eye ointments are available.

Nighttime use of an eye ointment like OCUNOX® provides protection of the tear film. Its particularly smooth texture helps to gently moisturize the eyes, stabilize the tear film, and prevent tears from evaporating during sleep. OCUNOX® is a preservative-free ointment which contains vitamin A, a natural component of the tear film, that supports tolerance and helps ensure the ointment to mix well with available tears, relieving symptoms of dry or tired eyes.

For both daytime and nighttime symptoms, preservative-free HYLO GEL® (10mL, 300 drops) with a high concentration of high-quality Sodium Hyaluronate offers strong lubrication and long-lasting relief. Thanks to the airless, multi-dose HYLO® bottle technology, HYLO GEL® is dispensed in sterile and precise drops, one at a time.

When severe dry eye symptoms potentially progress to become persistent, preservative-free HYLO DUAL INTENSE™ may provide intensive relief. A combination of high-quality Sodium Hyaluronate and Ectoine provides a comprehensive solution for chronically dry eyes and inflammatory symptoms.  

With HYLO® GEL mini and HYLO DUAL INTENSE™ mini containing 5mL, 150 drops, first-time users can start STRONG to relieve severe dry eye symptoms and JUMP early at chronically dry eyes!

These effective eye care tips may of benefit for improving dry eye symptoms, both during the day and night, in turn elevating daytime eye comfort and sleep quality. 

Find HYLO® GEL mini / HYLO® GEL, HYLO DUAL INTENSE™ mini / HYLO DUAL INTENSE™, and OCUNOX® alongside the rest of the CandorVision treatments Canada-wide at your local optometry and ophthalmology clinics or pharmacies, behind the counter.

Should you have any concerns about your health or eye health, please consult with your health professional for medical assistance.

CandorVision™ — Your eyes are everything!

References: 

1. McNab AA. The eye and sleep. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2005 Apr;33(2):117-25. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-9071.2005.00969.x. PMID: 15807817.

2. Alevi D, Perry HD, Wedel A, Rosenberg E, Alevi L, Donnenfeld ED. Effect of Sleep Position on the Ocular Surface. Cornea. 2017 May;36(5):567-571. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000001167. PMID: 28257381.

3. Gomes JAP, Azar DT, Baudouin C, Efron N, Hirayama M, Horwath-Winter J, Kim T, Mehta JS, Messmer EM, Pepose JS, Sangwan VS, Weiner AL, Wilson SE, Wolffsohn JS. TFOS DEWS II iatrogenic report. Ocul Surf. 2017 Jul;15(3):511-538. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2017.05.004. Epub 2017 Jul 20. PMID: 28736341.

4. Fu L, Patel BC. National Center for Biotechnology Information [Internet]. Lagophthalmos - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf; [cited 2024 Nov 30]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560661/. 

5. LaMotte S. CNN [Internet]. Do you sleep with your eyes open? (You’ll be surprised how many of us do) | CNN; 2020 Jul 21 [cited 2024 Nov 30]. Available from: https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/21/health/sleep-eyes-wide-open-wellness/index.html. 

6. Takahashi A, Negishi K, Ayaki M, Uchino M, Tsubota K. Nocturnal Lagophthalmos and Sleep Quality in Patients with Dry Eye Disease. Life (Basel). 2020 Jul 4;10(7):105. doi: 10.3390/life10070105. PMID: 32635438; PMCID: PMC7399990. 

7. Ayaki M, Negishi K. Seasonality of Tear Meniscus Volume and Dry Eye-Related Symptoms - A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Cohort Study. Clin Ophthalmol. 2023 Dec 12;17:3809-3816. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S442567. PMID: 38105909; PMCID: PMC10725749.