Medical News
Disrupted sleep might contribute to serious eye condition
A new study highlights another good reason to improve sleep habits
Poor sleep has been tied to reduced well-being and a host of health problems — glaucoma may now be the latest unwelcome addition to the list .
Researchers sifted through the sleep behaviours and patterns of more than 400,000 people in the UK over the course of more than 10 years and found that sleep disruption was associated with an increased risk of developing glaucoma , a common eye problem that often develops in old age and can lead to blindness if not diagnosed and treated early . The condition affects about 70 million people globally , a number estimated to increase up to almost 112 million by 2040 .
“ Snoring , daytime sleepiness , insomnia , and short / long duration , individually or jointly , were all associated with the risk of glaucoma ,” the authors wrote in the BMJ . “ 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 .”
Snoring and daytime sleepiness produced an 11 percent increased risk of glaucoma , while insomnia and sleeping too much or too little reached a 13 percent surge compared to people with good sleep patterns .
Since glaucoma has no symptoms , regular screening is the main tool to spot it when it ’ s still treatable . The US CDC advices people at high risk of developing the condition to get a comprehensive eye exam , while the US Medicare programme covers one glaucoma test per year . This applies to people older than 60 , those with a family history of glaucoma , and diabetics .
It ’ s no surprise then that the study participants diagnosed with glaucoma during follow-up were also more likely to be older , male , and long-time smokers with a history of high blood pressure and diabetes at recruitment .
If you don ’ t belong to a high-risk group , the CDC recommends one eye exam by the age of 40 . Doctors will then tell you how frequently you ’ ll need to get back for a check-up .
The research findings provide additional information to identify people who may benefit from early glaucoma screening , while stressing that improving sleep quality might help prevent the condition in at-risk people .
Damage to the optic nerve that connects the eyes with the brain characterises glaucoma , but its causes are still poorly understood . However , increased intraocular pressure is a major risk factor .
One working theory to explain the link between sleep disturbance and glaucoma posits that the former might lead to elevated intraocular pressure through altered sleep hormone balance , the study authors wrote .
It ’ s not surprising that sleep problems could play a role in glaucoma as getting insufficient sleep is associated with many chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes , heart disease , obesity , and depression .
Adults are advised to get about seven hours sleep per night . But quality is as essential as quantity . If you feel tired even after getting enough sleep time or you repeatedly wake up during the night , you may need to improve your sleep quality .
Some tips to sleep better include going to bed and waking up at the same times every day , avoiding large meals , caffeine , and alcohol before bedtime , and getting exercise during the day .
“ Snoring , daytime sleepiness , insomnia , and short / long duration , individually or jointly , were all associated with the risk of glaucoma .”
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