How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep with Dry Eye

For sufferers of Dry Eye Syndrome, symptoms can often be worse at night time because the eyes have been open and exposed to dry air all day.[1]

This irritation can make it difficult to sleep properly, which itself can make Dry Eye symptoms worse over time due to tiredness and lack of rest for the eyes.

What makes Dry Eye get worse at night?

There are multiple reasons why Dry Eye symptoms can worsen at night.

Nocturnal lagophthalmos:

This condition means that the eyelids are unable to close properly at night or appear to close but don’t form a seal that holds in moisture. So, the eyes are exposed to dry air during the night which can increase irritation and itching.[2]

The body’s metabolism changes at night:

During the night, when the body is relaxed and sleeping, your metabolism slows. This is because the body functions slow, blood circulation slows and there are fewer nutrients reaching the eye, therefore fewer tears are produced.[1]

For people who already suffer from Dry Eye Syndrome, this can result in worse symptoms during the night because they already deal with problems to do with the quality and quantity of tear production.

Screen time

Spending lots of time in front of your computer or smartphone reduces your blink rate. This can cause eye strain and Dry Eye, which may feel worse in the evening after a long day of work, especially as 95% of us use some sort of electronic device right before we go to sleep.[3]

Prolonged contact lens use

Soft contact lenses absorb moisture from your eye to stay hydrated and soft. Therefore, many people who wear them find that after a long day, by the time they are ready for bed, their eyes can be dry and itchy.[1]

How to treat Dry Eye at night

If you’re looking to manage your dry eye during the night, there are some great home remedies and medications to help you ease symptoms when you are in bed.

Use a warm compress

Before bed, apply a warm compress to your eyes, which can help to melt the oils blocking your ocular glands.[4]

A specialist compress, such as MeiboPatch does this even more effectively by maintaining the correct temperature automatically, whereas a warm flannel quickly gets cold.[5] [6]

Stay Hydrated

This is a general rule of thumb for sufferers of dry eye, because staying well hydrated has been scientifically proven to help ease symptoms. Consistently drinking water throughout the day can therefore help to lessen the impact of symptoms at night.[7]

Make sure your eyes are clean

After applying the compress and massaging your glands, you will need to clean away the secretions from your unblocked glands and any dirt and irritants that have built up during the day.[8] For the best results, use Naviblef® Intensive Care or  Naviblef® Daily Care foam to cleanse the eyes, as they are non-greasy and non-irritant.[9]

Try to keep the air as humid as possible

By turning on a humidifier in your room a night, you fill the air with moisture and protect your eyes from potential dryness.[10]

Use VisuXL Gel before bed

VisuXL Gel provides 12-hour protection from Dry Eye symptoms.[11] [12]  So, using it straight before you go to sleep protects your eyes from drying out whilst you rest, and helps you have a great night’s sleep.[10]

For more information about VisuXL Gel and other treatments to relieve dry eye at night, visit our VisuFarma Website.[1] 

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References

1. Lazarus, Russell. ‘Burning Eyes at Night’ Optometrists Network, 6th February 2021, Accessed August 2021
2. Latkany, Robert, Lock, Barbara, and Speaker, Mark. ‘Nocturnal lagophthalmos: an overview and classification’, The Occular Surface, 2006 Jan;4(1):44-53.
3. Dohenny, Kathleen. ‘Sleep and Technology Don’t Mix: Sleep Poll’, WebMD, 6th March 2011. Accessed August 2021
4. Baumann A, Cochener B. [Meibomian gland dysfunction: a comparative study of modern treatments]. Journal francais d’ophtalmologie. 2014; 37(4): 303-12
5. Dupont L, Nochez Y, Pisella P, Cochener B, Gicquel J. Assessment of the improvement of the quality of vision after Meibopatch© treatment, with OQAS and Hartmann Shack .
6. MeiboPatch® Instructions for Use (IFU)
7. Walsh, Neil. Fortes, Matthew. Raymond-Barker, Phillipa. et al. ‘Is Whole-Body Hydration an Important Consideration in Dry Eye’, IOVS, September 2012, Vol.53, 6622-6627.
8. Lovering, Cathy, ‘Why You Have Dry Eyes at Night and How to Soothe Them’, Healthline, Jan 15th 2021, Accessed August 2021
9. Naviblef® Intensive Care instructions for use (IFU)
10. Huizen, Jennifer. ‘What to Know about Dry Eyes at Night’, Medical News Today, Feb 25th 2021, Accessed August 2021
11. VisuXL Instructions for use (IFU)
12. Brancato R, Fiore T, Papucci L, et al. Concomitant Effect of Topical Ubiquinone Q10 and Vitamin E to Prevent Keratocyte Apoptosis After Excimer Laser Photoablation in Rabbits. J Refract Surg 2002; 18: 135-9