If Your Eyes Feel More Irritated When You Wake Up, You’re Probably Sleeping with Your Eyes Open!
John Lipchak, OD for Eye Drop Hero: Blog #3:
As an Eye Doctor For 30 Years, I Would Estimate About 5% Of My Patients Sleep with Their Eyes Open. They Almost Always Say: That’s Impossible! I Say: Listen to Your Eye. What’s Happening Right Before Your Eye Feels the Worst? If You Wake Up with Irritation, Then Sleeping Is Your Problem. Yes, Sleeping with Your Eye Open Will Cause A Dry Eye. Most of My Patients with Chronic Dry Eyes Say Its Worse Later in The Day (See Blog #1). We Blink to Get New Tears onto The Eye and Flush Out the Old Tears. Right Now, Try to Keep Your Eye Open for A Couple Minutes. It Hurts! If That Happens When You’re Sleeping, It Hurts.
Most Times I Cannot Find A Reason Why A Person Starts Sleeping with An Eye or Eyes Open. Sometimes A Change in Sleep Pattern Can Cause the Eye to Not Close or Maybe No Protective Rapid Eye Movement If Not Entering Deep Sleep?
My Treatment Usually Involves 2 Steps. Get the Eye Back to Normal Using Prescription Anti-Inflammatory Drops (Steroids). Then Keep the Eye Normal by Solving the Problem.
1: Maximum Dry Eye Treatment (Blog #4)
2: I Haven’t Had More Than A Handful of Patients Tape Their Lids Closed at Bedtime (A Sleeping Mask Won’t Keep the Eyes from Opening).
3: Bandage Contact Lens Worn Overnight with Restasis At Bedtime (Acts Like A Cellophane Wrap).
Most Red Eyes Are Treated with Drops, But Many Patients Hate Taking Drops. That’s Why I Developed Eye Drop Hero to Hold the Bottle for You and Let You Decide Where the Drop Goes.
Ask Your Eye Doctor About the Topics Discussed in This Blog. Remember to Have Annual Eye Exams Because Some Eye Diseases Have No Symptoms (i.e. Glaucoma).