Masks are optional for all visitors and staff. Please see our current COVID-19 policies here.
We require appointments for all examinations and optical-related visits.
If you have questions or want to schedule an appointment, call us at (636)272-1444

alarm-ringing ambulance angle2 archive arrow-down arrow-left arrow-right arrow-up at-sign baby baby2 bag binoculars book-open book2 bookmark2 bubble calendar-check calendar-empty camera2 cart chart-growth check chevron-down chevron-left chevron-right chevron-up circle-minus circle city clapboard-play clipboard-empty clipboard-text clock clock2 cloud-download cloud-windy cloud clubs cog cross crown cube youtube diamond4 diamonds drop-crossed drop2 earth ellipsis envelope-open envelope exclamation eye-dropper eye facebook file-empty fire flag2 flare foursquare gift glasses google graph hammer-wrench heart-pulse heart home instagram joystick lamp layers lifebuoy link linkedin list lock magic-wand map-marker map medal-empty menu microscope minus moon mustache-glasses paper-plane paperclip papers pen pencil pie-chart pinterest plus-circle plus power printer pushpin question rain reading receipt recycle reminder sad shield-check smartphone smile soccer spades speed-medium spotlights star-empty star-half star store sun-glasses sun tag telephone thumbs-down thumbs-up tree tumblr twitter tiktok wechat user users wheelchair write yelp youtube

Vision Tips For A Better Night’s Sleep

We all have a nightly routine. But what we may not realize is that some of our bedtime habits could be harming our eyes and overall health.

Here’s a few helpful tips to help you get some better shut-eye:

Take Your Contacts Out Before Going To Sleep

We know that after a long day it can be hard to take your contacts out, but you should never skip this step! Nearly one million Americans visit the eye doctor each year with infections related to exercising improper contact lens hygiene.

Because contact lenses rest directly on the eye, they decrease the amount of oxygen that reaches your eyes from the environment. When left on longer than recommended, they deprive our eyes of much needed oxygen. This can lead to infection, inflammation, abrasions, and even permanent damage. So, do your eyes a favor and be sure to remove your contacts before going to bed at night!

Steer Clear Of Your Smartphone Right Before Bed

You may not know it, but your smartphone may be throwing off your sleep cycle. Light is an important natural cue that tells our bodies when to wake and when to sleep. Smartphones, TVs, laptops, and the like emit what is called blue light—a form of light emitted by the sun.

So, when you’re scrolling through your phone while in bed, your brain reacts as it would to sunlight. This causes your body to stop producing melatonin, an important hormone that regulates sleep cycles. Thus, inappropriately timed exposure to blue light can lead to insomnia.

[iframe https://www.youtube.com/embed/mnDfPpUC_jg?rel=0 620 349]

Get Enough Quality Shut-Eye

Getting enough sleep should be a top priority. Sleep deprivation can cause red, bloodshot eyes, dark circles, eye twitching, dry eyes, and blurry vision. Not only is lack of sleep bad for your eyes, but it’s also extremely detrimental to your overall health.

Chronic lack of sleep can increase your risk of many long term health issues such as:

  • Weight gain
  • Depression
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart failure
  • Stroke
  • Accident-related injury
  • Poor quality of life

Studies even show an increased mortality risk for those reporting less than six or seven hours per night. So the next time you hit the hay, you can feel good knowing how important it is for your health!

Your Health Is Important To Us

As your trusted vision care providers, we make your health our priority! We know that sleep sometimes takes a back seat to the hustle and bustle of our day-to-day lives, but don’t underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep. Now go get some rest. You deserve it.

Thank you for being a valued patient and friend!

Top image by Flickr user gothopotam used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.