Lack of sleep can lead to blindness, new research warns

Scientists say that sleeping too much or too little, as well as daytime sleepiness, insomnia and snoring can increase the risk of cataracts.

Insomniacs have imbalanced sleep hormones that can affect the eyes (Envato).

Lack of sleep can lead to blindness, according to a new study.

Scientists say that sleeping too much or too little, as well as daytime sleepiness, insomnia and snoring can increase the risk of glaucoma.

Cataract is an eye disease in which the optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain is damaged. If left untreated, it can lead to complete blindness.

The disease is a leading cause of blindness and is expected to affect 11.2 million people worldwide by 2040.

The researchers studied four hundred and nine thousand people from the UK Biobank. When they were recruited in 2006-2010, people in the group were aged between 40 and 69 and provided details of their sleeping habits.

The scientists then analyzed sleep patterns as well as background information on the individuals such as age, gender, lifestyle, weight, race, education and place of residence.

After monitoring the participants for just over 10.5 years, 8,690 cases of glaucoma were identified.

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

Those with glaucoma were older and more likely to be male. They were also more likely to smoke and have high blood pressure or diabetes than those not diagnosed with the disease.

Those who developed glaucoma tended to be older and men were more likely to develop it. They were also more likely to be smokers, and more likely to have high blood pressure or diabetes than those who were not diagnosed with the disease.

The research revealed that short or long sleep, insomnia, snoring and frequent daytime sleepiness increase the chances of suffering from this disease.

Those who slept seven to nine hours or less were eight percent more likely to develop glaucoma, while those with insomnia were 12 percent more likely.

Those who snored had a four percent higher chance and those who slept more during the day had a 20 percent higher risk of developing the disease.

The study, published in the medical journal BMJ Open, found several possible explanations for these findings.

Pressure on the eye while lying down is a major factor in the development of glaucoma, as is repeated exposure to low oxygen, caused by snoring and lack of sleep. This can damage the optic nerve.

Insomnia may also play a role. People suffering from insomnia have imbalanced sleep hormones which can affect the eyes.

Depression and anxiety, often caused by insomnia, can also increase intraocular pressure.

Researchers also acknowledge the possibility that glaucoma itself, rather than other factors, may influence sleep patterns.

The findings also emphasize the need for sleep therapy in people at high risk for the disease and for eye examinations in people with chronic sleep disorders to screen for early symptoms.

"Because sleep patterns can be modified, these findings may be relevant to those at high risk of glaucoma," said study co-author Dr. Huan Song, a professor at the West China Biomedical Big Data Center at West China Hospital Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. for sleep intervention and the need for potential eye screening in individuals with chronic sleep problems to help prevent glaucoma.

'The findings also emphasize the need for sleep therapy in people at high risk of the disease and for eye examinations in people with chronic sleep disorders to screen for early symptoms.'