ABSTRACT
Introduction: Lack of sufficient production of tear filmleads to symptoms of dry eyes. Sleep deprivation is knownto cause various physiological changes in the body includinghormonal and neuronal changes. These changes can lead todisturbance in development of a proper tear film and hence dryeyes. Current research objective was to study the associationof sleep deprivation and occurrence of dry eyes in the sleepdeprived individuals.Material and methods: Medical students from a tertiarycare center were included in the study. Sleep deprivationwas estimated using Sleep-quality questionnaire (TheSleep Revolution by Arianna Huffington). Dry eyesquestionnaire was taken and the severity assessed usingOcular Surface Disease Index Scale (OSDI). Schirmer’s test,Tear Film Break-up Time (TBUT) and IOP measurementwere carried out on the test subjects. The results werecompared between sleep-deprived and non-sleep deprivedindividuals.Results: Out of total 50 test subjects, 25 were controls and25 were sleep deprived. Significant association was foundbetween sleep deprivation and severity of dry eye symptoms,tear film break up time and results of Schirmer’s tests.However, no significant association was found between sleepdeprivation and increase in IOP.Conclusion: Sleep deprivation induces reduction in tearsecretion; increase in tear osmolarity and shortens tear filmbreak-up time. These changes can later lead to developmentof ocular surface diseases. Hence, a larger study is neededto be carried out to further study the association andspread awareness regarding need of good quality sleep inorder to reduce occurrence of dry eyes and other oculardisorders.