Normally, people sleep with their eyes closed. However, there are rare cases where people do sleep with their eyes open, which is often due to a sleep disorder. Therefore, this is not a normal phenomenon, as the eyelids normally close by a natural reflex.
Is it normal to sleep with your eyes open?
No, it is not normal to sleep with your eyes open, which is actually what you just read. If a person’s eyelids do not close completely during sleep, it is often due to a sleep disorder. In fact, sleepwalking can be the causative agent of open eyes, as can other sleep-related movement disorders.
So you can then still sleep with your eyes open, although this is very rare. It is also often associated with abnormal sleep behaviors, thus possibly caused by a medical condition.
If you sleep with your eyes open it is wise to contact a doctor or sleep specialist. This expert can thoroughly evaluate you and then offer advice that may still allow you to sleep with your eyes closed. Chances are this will be beneficial to your sleep and overall health.
Why do you close your eyes when you sleep?
So your eyes normally close automatically by a natural reflex. This contributes to healthy and restful sleep, which is due to the following reasons:
- Protection: Closing the eyelids protects the eyes from external influences, such as dust, dirt and bright light. This helps maintain eye health.
- Hydration: While sleeping, the frequency of blinking decreases, which normally helps spread tear fluid across the surface of the eye. Closing the eyes keeps them moist, preventing dehydration.
- Relaxation: Closing the eyes contributes to the overall relaxation of the body. Reducing visual stimuli helps calm the nervous system, making the transition to sleep easier.
- Dark environment: A dark environment stimulates the release of the sleep hormone melatonin. Closing the eyes helps create this dark environment, which regulates biorhythms and improves sleep quality.
In short, closing the eyes during sleep is a natural and protective response that supports eye well-being and promotes overall sleep conditions.
How are your eyes when you sleep?
Your sleep consists of several stages. During these periods, your eyes change in position and movement, which you’ll read more about below.
| The stage | Your eyes |
| Brake sleep | Your eyes move quickly in various directions. You dream during your REM sleep. The visual activity in these dreams are often the enablers of your rapid eye movements. |
| Non-brake sleep | Your eyes do not move as fast during non-REM sleep. Also, the patterns are quieter. All in all, your eyes remain fairly set at this stage. |
| Eye position | When you are in a restful sleep phase, your eyes are usually still. They are facing forward in a relaxed position. |
Although these eye movements and positions are normal among humans, there are some differences. In fact, not everyone experiences the same eye movements and positions during their sleep. So individual variations exist.
Why do some people sleep with their eyes open?
So while it is normal to sleep with your eyes closed, there are some people who have their eyes open during their sleep. This is often due to a condition called lagophthalmos. This refers to the inability to close the eyelids completely during sleep. Lagophthalmos has several potential causes:
- Neurological causes: Damage to the facial nerve, or facial nerve, can cause lagophthalmos.
- Trauma: Injuries to the nerves and/or muscles in your eyes or face may prevent you from closing your eyelids completely.
- Eyelid muscle weakness: A lack of muscle weakness in your eyelids can come from neurological problems, congenital defects and other conditions. Myasthenia gravis (fluctuating muscle weakness) is one example.
- Surgeries: Eye surgeries can also result in problems closing your eyelids. Lagophthalmos can then occur temporarily but also permanently.
Frequently asked questions about: Can you sleep with your eyes open
Why can’t you sleep with your eyes open?
When we sleep, we close our eyes. This is because our muscles slacken, making our body unable to keep our eyelids open. They therefore close completely, making it basically impossible to sleep with your eyes open.
What is indifferent sleep?
Indifferent sleep occurs only in infants who are not older than three months. It is a stage of sleep in which they appear to be awake, yet are really asleep. However, they do have their eyes open and a so-called angelic smile also appears on their faces. So the baby then sleeps with its eyes open.
What happens when you sleep with your eyes open?
It is normal for your eyes to be closed when you sleep, yet they do a lot. This is because during brake sleep, your eyes move considerably. REM, then, stands for “rapid eye movement,” or rapid eye movements. Your brain is active then, which means your eyes are too.
Conclusion
You can sleep with your eyes open, per se, but this is not normal. In fact, it is often due to a medical condition, especially sleep disorders. Still, this is pretty rare, with most people simply sleeping with their eyes closed. This promotes the quality of your sleep.
