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Association between dry eye disease and poor sleep quality in the elderly
Ao Li1, Yubo Wu2, Ziyang Yin2
1Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Key Lab, Beijing, China.
BMC Ophthalmology
|July 7, 2026
Summary
Elderly individuals with dry eye experience poorer sleep quality and reduced deep sleep. Excessive screen time may worsen dry eye and impact sleep in this population.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Sleep Medicine
- Gerontology
Background:
- The elderly population is disproportionately affected by sleep disorders and dry eye disease.
- Both conditions can significantly impact an individual's quality of life and overall health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between dry eye disease and sleep quality in elderly individuals.
- To identify specific sleep parameters and dry eye indicators that correlate in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 58 elderly patients diagnosed with dry eye and 31 healthy controls.
- Sleep quality assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and wearable devices.
- Dry eye severity evaluated through Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), Fluorescein Tear Breakup Time (FBUT), Corneal Fluorescein Staining (CFS), and Schirmer I test.
Main Results:
- Dry eye patients exhibited significantly worse scores in OSDI, FBUT, CFS, Schirmer I, and PSQI compared to controls.
- Reduced deep sleep duration and percentage were observed in the dry eye group.
- A significant portion of dry eye patients (69.0%) reported poor sleep, with most sleeping less than 8 hours.
- Subjective sleep quality correlated with FBUT and CFS, while deep sleep percentage correlated with FBUT and CFS.
- Prolonged video terminal use was associated with reduced deep sleep percentage and worsened FBUT.
Conclusions:
- Elderly individuals with dry eye disease demonstrate significantly poorer sleep quality.
- Reduced deep sleep percentage is correlated with the presence and severity of dry eye in the elderly.
- Excessive use of video terminals may be a contributing factor to both reduced deep sleep and dry eye symptoms in this age group.
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