If you’re over 40 and worried about glaucoma—or already dealing with it—you might want to take a closer look at your sleep habits. A large-scale U.S. study involving more than 6,700 adults uncovered significant links between how and when you sleep and your risk of glaucoma-related vision damage. These findings could empower you to take steps that not only improve your rest but also help protect your eyesight.*

What the Study Revealed About Sleep and Glaucoma

The study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, focusing on adults with signs of glaucoma. These participants had documented optic nerve damage, confirmed through either fundus photography or automated visual field tests. 

Researchers then compared this medical data to participants’ self-reported sleep behaviors:

• How long they slept 
• How easily they fell asleep 
• Whether or not they woke frequently during the night 
• Their use of sleep aids 
• Daytime drowsiness
• Any diagnosed sleep disorders, like sleep apnea

The results suggested that sleep problems are not just a nuisance—they could be red flags for underlying or worsening vision issues.

Sleep Habits That Could Be Damaging Your Eyes

Certain patterns stood out as particularly risky.

• Sleeping 10 or more hours a night or fewer than three hours a night increased the chances of optic nerve damage by three times, compared to sleeping an average of seven hours.
  
• Typically falling asleep very quickly (under 9 minutes) or taking a long time (30+ minutes) to fall asleep doubled the odds of having glaucoma.
  
• Participants feeling so sleepy during the day as to have trouble remembering things or enjoying hobbies were 2–3 times more likely to have visual field damage.

Taking Action: Why Sleep Should Be Part of Your Eye Care

Dr. Michael Boland, a glaucoma expert at Johns Hopkins, currently at Mass Eye and Ear at Harvard, says this research strengthens the case for making sleep health part of your glaucoma care plan. You can’t change your optic nerves, but improving your sleep quality might give you better control over your overall eye health. 

Talk to your doctor about your sleep habits, aim for seven hours of quality sleep, and treat sleep issues early—they might be more connected to your vision than you ever thought.

*Boyd, K. (2025, March 13). Eye-Opening Study: Relationship Between Glaucoma and Poor Sleep. American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/news/study-relationship-between-glaucoma-poor-sleep 

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