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Effect of Sleep Position on the Ocular Surface
David Alevi1, Henry D Perry, Alexander Wedel
1*Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island, Rockville Centre, NY; and †Department of Ophthalmology, Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow, NY.
Cornea
|March 4, 2017
Summary
Sleeping position impacts dry eye disease. Side sleeping is linked to higher Ocular Surface Disease Index scores compared to back sleeping. Changing sleep position to supine may alleviate dry eye symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Ocular Surface Disease
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Dry eye disease is multifactorial with known risk factors.
- The association between sleep position and dry eye disease has not been previously established.
- Clinical observations suggest a potential link between sleep posture and dry eye/meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential association between sleep position and dry eye disease.
- To explore if sleep posture affects ocular surface health and meibomian gland dysfunction.
- To determine if specific sleep positions correlate with dry eye severity.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional, single-centered study of 100 dry eye patients and 25 controls.
- Utilized questionnaires for sleep habits and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) assessment.
- Assessed dry eye severity via MGD staging, corneal staining, Schirmer testing, tear osmolarity, and clinical exam.
Main Results:
- Lissamine green staining showed a significant difference between back sleeping and left-side sleeping (P = 0.005).
- Patients sleeping on their side (right or left) had higher OSDI scores (36.4, 34.1) than back sleepers (26.7) (P < 0.05).
- No significant correlation was found between sleep position and the degree of MGD.
Conclusions:
- Side sleeping or prone sleeping may exacerbate dry eye and MGD symptoms.
- Patients experiencing dry eye may benefit from altering their sleep position to supine (back sleeping).
- Further research can explore sleep position as a modifiable factor in managing dry eye disease.
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