Is it possible to fall asleep with your eyes open

While you're awake, blinking helps clear your eyes of dust or other particles that might get in your eye; blinking also lubricates your eyes to make sure they don't get dry or irritated. When you're asleep, though, you stop blinking, so keeping your eyes closed is the best way to also keep them safe. Plus, sleeping with your eyes shut cuts down on outside stimuli such as light or movement that might wake you or otherwise prevent you from getting a deep, restful sleep. People who sleep with their eyes open often wake to find their eyes dry, red and irritated.

That's annoying and painful in the short term, but there are also potential long term problems that can occur if you chronically sleep with your eyes open. Sleeping with the eyes open may not affect the quality of sleep either. But the drying and irritation of the eyes could make sleep less restful. And that discomfort can continue after you wake up. You may not know whether you're sleeping with your eyes open.

You might need a partner, family member or friend to look or take a picture while you're sleeping. Your ophthalmologist also can check whether your lids are closing fully during an eye exam. If you think you're sleeping with your eyes open, you should see an ophthalmologist to find out why. Treatments are available for many of the causes and symptoms of nocturnal lagophthalmos. During sleep, eyelids keep your eyes dark and moist to maintain eye health and help you sleep more deeply.

You should not attempt to sleep with your eyes open. There are several possible reasons that a person may not be able to sleep with his or her eyes open. These might be related to neurological problems, physical abnormalities, or other medical conditions.

Most people who cannot close their eyes while sleeping have a condition called nocturnal lagophthalmos. Most with this condition have eyelids that cannot close enough to cover the eye partly or completely. Nocturnal lagophthalmos is associated with physical abnormalities of the eyes, face, or eyelids, or eyelashes that grow into the eyes. Some people have a drooping upper eyelid. This condition, called ptosis , is associated with the weakening or injury to the muscle that lifts the eyelid.

While surgery can help correct this condition, a common complication during surgery could keep the eyelid from shutting completely. This results in sleeping with eyes partially open. Trauma or injury to the face, eyes, or nerves that control eyelid movement could affect your ability to shut your eyes.

Injuries that result from cosmetic surgery, such as eyelifts, may also cause damage to the nerves that control movement in the eyelids. By Danielle Pacheco September 17, By Danielle Pacheco September 10, By Tom Ryan July 29, Cataplexy By Rob Newsom August 28, Load More Articles.

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