VIEWS FOR 20/20 by Dr. Mark Skowron and Dr. Michelle Skowron HOW SLEEP AFFECTS VISION HEALTH Your brain and eyes work together to create vision, and both are affected by lack of sleep. Just like the rest of your body, your eyes heal while you're sleeping. An insufficient night's sleep can cause eye twitches and spasms, blurry vision, and light sensitivity. Poor sleeping patterns can cause dry, itchy eyes that don't produce enough tears, which can lead to daily discomfort and chronic eye infections. Myopia (nearsightedness or poor distance vision) usually develops during childhood. Children and adolescents who get fewer than five hours of sleep are at higher risk of developing myopia. Over time, sleep deprivation contributes to serious eye diseases like glaucoma, which damages the eye's optic nerve and affects eyesight. Melatonin is a hormone that helps you fall asleep and stay asleep. But did you know that melatonin is also important for your eyes? It can help protect your eyes against damage caused by free radicals, which can lead to cataracts and macular degeneration. It is also known to promote eye health by regulating intraocular pressure, reducing inflammation, and improving blood flow to the eyes. SKOWRON EYE CARE has been providing personal, cutting-edge eye care for patients in Elmhurst and surrounding areas since 1983. At Skowron Eye Care, our mission is your vision. P.S. Diabetics are at increased risk of diabetic retinopathy and related complications if they are getting fewer than six hours or more than eight hours of sleep each night. SKOWRON EYE CARE 370 N. York, Elmhurst, IL 60126 630-834-6244 www.skowroneyecare.com VIEWS FOR 20/20 by Dr. Mark Skowron and Dr. Michelle Skowron HOW SLEEP AFFECTS VISION HEALTH Your brain and eyes work together to create vision , and both are affected by lack of sleep . Just like the rest of your body , your eyes heal while you're sleeping . An insufficient night's sleep can cause eye twitches and spasms , blurry vision , and light sensitivity . Poor sleeping patterns can cause dry , itchy eyes that don't produce enough tears , which can lead to daily discomfort and chronic eye infections . Myopia ( nearsightedness or poor distance vision ) usually develops during childhood . Children and adolescents who get fewer than five hours of sleep are at higher risk of developing myopia . Over time , sleep deprivation contributes to serious eye diseases like glaucoma , which damages the eye's optic nerve and affects eyesight . Melatonin is a hormone that helps you fall asleep and stay asleep . But did you know that melatonin is also important for your eyes ? It can help protect your eyes against damage caused by free radicals , which can lead to cataracts and macular degeneration . It is also known to promote eye health by regulating intraocular pressure , reducing inflammation , and improving blood flow to the eyes . SKOWRON EYE CARE has been providing personal , cutting - edge eye care for patients in Elmhurst and surrounding areas since 1983. At Skowron Eye Care , our mission is your vision . P.S. Diabetics are at increased risk of diabetic retinopathy and related complications if they are getting fewer than six hours or more than eight hours of sleep each night . SKOWRON EYE CARE 370 N. York , Elmhurst , IL 60126 630-834-6244 www.skowroneyecare.com