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Unraveling the relationship between childhood dry eye symptoms and sleep patterns

Qing He1, Ziwen Sun2, Ruixin Li1

  • 1Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China.

Jornal De Pediatria
|November 7, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Poor sleep quality significantly increases the risk of dry eye syndromes (DEs) in children. This large study found that children with poor sleep were twice as likely to develop DEs, highlighting sleep

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatrics
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Dry eye syndromes (DEs) are increasingly prevalent in children.
  • Sleep is a critical determinant of overall health in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of dry eye in children.
  • To examine the association between sleep quality and dry eye in children, accounting for potential confounders.

Main Methods:

  • A large cohort of 169,080 children aged 6-12 years was analyzed.
  • Dry eye was assessed using the 5-Item Dry Eye Questionnaire.
  • Sleep quality was evaluated using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, with logistic and linear regression analyses performed.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of DEs was 13.12%, and 66.25% of children experienced poor sleep.
  • Children with poor sleep had a significantly higher prevalence of DEs (15.97%) compared to those with normal sleep (7.53%) (P < 0.001).
  • Poor sleepers had an increased risk of DEs (OR = 2.005; 95% CI: 1.933-2.080) after adjusting for confounders. Shorter sleep duration (<10 hours) was also associated with higher DEs risk (OR = 1.236; 95% CI: 1.167-1.310).

Conclusions:

  • Poor sleep quality is significantly associated with a higher prevalence and risk of dry eye syndromes in children.
  • All assessed domains of sleep were poorer in children with DEs, with associations remaining significant after adjusting for comorbidities.
  • These findings underscore the importance of adequate sleep for pediatric eye health.
Abstract

Keywords:
5-item dry eye questionnaireChildrenChildren's sleep habits questionnaireDry eyeSleep

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