According to a study published in BMJ Open, adverse sleep behaviours have been linked to a greater likelihood of developing and worsening glaucoma. The UK Biobank data was analysed to examine sleep habits such as snoring, daytime drowsiness, insomnia, and sleep patterns that were either too short or too long.
The researchers found that individuals with these “suboptimal sleep patterns” were more susceptible to developing glaucoma, and the results were consistent across various forms of glaucoma.
They emphasized the need for sleep interventions for those at high risk of glaucoma, as well as the possibility of screening for glaucoma in individuals with chronic sleep issues.