Sleeping with Eyes Open - Dry Eye Treatments for Lagophthalmos

Having your eyes open while sleeping is more common than you would think (most people have their eyes open just a small amount). Sleeping with eyes open can lead to severe dry eye symptoms and even exposure keratopathy (where the eye becomes compromised due to chronic dryness and exposure to the air). Here we review common causes of lagophthalmos and share some dry eye tips about what your doctor may recommend for you.

🟡 SHOW NOTES🟡
0:00 Sleeping with Eyes Open
0:43 Video Dedication
0:57 Noctornal Lagophthalmos
1:15 Cranial Nerve 7
1:28 Dry Eye from Lagophthalmos
2:13 Exposure Keratopathy
2:35 Causes of Lagophthalmos
2:53 dry eye from Bell's Palsy
3:36 Dry Eyes from Thyroid Eye Disease
3:56 Dry Eyes from Sleep Apnea
4:13 Floppy Eyelid Syndrome
5:01 Dry Eye Treatment for lagophthalmos
7:07 Gold Weight Implant for Lagophthalmos
7:50 Tarsorrhaphy for Lagophthalmos

This video is NOT sponsored, but some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

💧Eye Drops for Dry Eye

Eye Ointment
Systane Gel

😴 Sleep Masks

Goggles for Sleep Apnea or CPAP machine

🔥 Pro Tips 🔥
Consider a Humidifier in your living room, office and/or bedroom:
If you are sleeping with a fan on make sure to direct it away from your face
(air flow could dry out the eyes more)

Note: Dry eye syndrome can be complicated by other forms of ocular surface disease and it is always best to consult with your local eye care professional if you are experiencing any eye pain or vision changes.

✅ Looking for more info about the dry eye syndrome?

✅ Learn about my favorite dry eye drops!

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About this video: Do you have dry eye syndrome from sleeping with your eyes wide open? Having your eyes open while sleeping is often due to an eyelid condition called lagophthalmos. In this video Dr. Joseph Allen OD FAAO reviews some common causes of lagophthalmos and how people develop dry eyes from sleeping with eyes half open. He also shares different strategies for dry eye treatment recommended for people struggling with dry eye disease or exposure keratopathy from lagophthalmos. If you are looking for a dry eye treatment at home or looking into other medical treatments for dry eye, then this video may help you. If you are struggling with severe dry eye syndrome symptoms it is important to follow up with a specialist in either optometry or ophthalmology that is trained in dry eye disease management.

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[DoctorEyeHealth]

Which part of this video was your favorite? Has anything worked really well for you and dry eye symptoms?

[D.BlueGreen]

As a teenager, my father would speak to me when he got up in the middle of the night, thinking I was awake. This is when I first learned that I sleep with my eyes partially open. I wear an eye mask with my cpap, which seems to help with eye dryness.

[lvnlife]

Thank for bring attention to these issues!! I had an Acoustic Neuroma brain tumor removal. Because the tumor was wrapped around the 7th facial nerve, I suffered facial droop and issues with severe dry eye. At first I had the eyelid sewn shut partially but eventually within a month or two part of the stitches would tear. When I finally got my gold eyelid weight I was so happy. It’s been a year now and my dry eye is slowly recovering. Yes it doesn’t look pleasant, but the good always outweighs the bad. I am even starting to get my tears back in that eye!

[sandybrown]

Yep, I 'sleep with one eye open', on both sides! I use Systane gel drops, nightly, and it has greatly reduced my keratotic filament development. Excellent choice of subject matter that is often overlooked--the sleepy element!

[debrakelly]

Thank you for this information. I had a large acoustic neuroma removed in 1999 and lost the facial/hearing/balance nerves. I had a palpebral spring in that eye lid for 20 years until it sprung, and have had a gold weight for the past 3 years. I use drops daily and ointment and an eye mask at night. I started using a scleral lens a year ago. It provides significant relief but it is a challenge to insert the lens, ensure there are no bubbles, etc. I really appreciate you and your commitment to eye health! Thank you!

[joshreese_optometry]

Just learning about this in school!!!! Thank you for the great content!

[charityrochford]

Thank you for this great video! I have a tear due to having a hair scrape my eye while sleeping with my eyelid open. It’s amazing how many people don’t believe such a thing could happen.
Because my eye dries overnight, if I forget to put in the night ointment it is quite a painful experience in the mornings when my eyelid re-pulls at the tear. From what the doctor said, the tear has become quite jagged due to the re-pulling on it by my lower eyelid.

I’ve had a relatively good summer without heat running to dry out the air as much and with my nightly ointment application. The winter has started to dry again, so I’m going to look into the eye drops that you’ve mentioned in this video in the hopes of keeping the progress that I’ve made in the past few months.

Thank you again for this informative video! I finally feel like I understand more!

[sueellenwalters]

Thank you for this video. I also sleep with my eyes open and do not fully blink. I just started using Vital Tears for my severely dry, red eyes and it has been life changing in only a month! Would love a video hearing your thoughts on this.

[robinr]

I use a gel at night called Stye. It's a little less expensive than the other over the counter gels labeled for dry eye, but has the same ingredients.

[NYNC]

My ophthalmologist said that one eye doesn't close completely. He told me to use the ointment at night and to tape my eye shut when I go to bed.

I found it very difficult to tape my eye shut, so now I seal the area with Glad Press'n Seal. First I put in gel drops, then ointment, then adhere the wrap, which is slightly sticky, to the bony area around the eye, forming an air tight seal. It prevents evaporation and my eye doesn't hurt in the morning!

[yiqie]

Very helpful video. I'm just one of the guys sleeping with my eyes open a little and also I have dry eye problems. More to dry eye, I even got cornea injury due to the open eyes. My cornea was often injured when opening my eyes in the morning and that was horrible for a person who need to work in front of the computer all day long...

[PolluxChung]

You are so natural and well-spoken in front of camera I in times doubt if you are a doctor 🤣🤣🤣🤣 👍🏼

[rachelwillingham]

When I was a senior in high school I was told I have dry eye because I sleep with my eyes slightly open. I have used Genteal severe dry eye gel (NOT the night time ointment) every night since and I notice a huge difference when I wake up using the gel and the occasional morning when I forgot to put it in.

[Bigbbs_umchileanywaysso]

My sister used to scare me every single time when we were little because we used to share a room when we were like 5. Not only does she opens her eyes, she also whistles in her sleep💀

[michaelbowen]

I use the eye shield and it helps a lot when it actually stays on my face at night.

[MsLaBajo]

I have this condition and light while I sleep is a major issue as well as it’s embarrassing and ugly to sleep like this so I wear eye masks to bed or when I nap on long car trips or plane. Regular eye masks create pressure so I wear foam ones which have a convex shape and totally block out light. I can have my eyes open and no one is alarmed or creeped out by it. The brand is called Bucky. I’ve used them for almost a decade now.

[princesssecillie]

Thanks for this information. My husband notice that my eyes is not fully closed when I’m sleeping. So far, I’m not experiencing dry eyes but it gets easily tired when I’m working on the computer.

[jlswickhaber]

Thank you for this!! My Eye Dr. told me last year I have this condition, it freaked me out a little at first just the thought of it. I have suffered from dry and burning eyes for several years now. My Dr. was tipped off to checking me for this when I happened to mention my eyes being totally bloodshot red to the point of startling me when I looked in the mirror sometimes, when I get up to go to the restroom at night. Thanks for the reminder on the preservative free eye drops. I admit I don't use the drops 4+ times a day like I'm supposed to, they're so expensive and I can't stand ointment in my eyes at all. I do drops in the morning and before bed, need to try to get better at that. Appreciate your well done, very helpful videos. Many thanks!

[BryanHalo]

You've helped me with your eye lid cleaning advice. I've cut my eye drop usage from 8 times a day to 2 since massaging my eyelids with whips. Thank you.

[eciiotic]

I always knew that I grew up sleeping with my eyes open but never knew that it was a serious concern that could lead to many future complications. I used to wear contacts frequently and 2 years ago I had a very bad infection that just kept coming back. I only recently discovered that I have Noctural Lagophthalmos and have been using lubricant drops, chlorsig ointment daily to help manage the dry eye symptoms. I discovered the moisture chamber goggles and eye mask through your channel which I am very grateful for! They’re still arriving but for the meanwhile I have been using swimming goggles which I find has been very helpful for my dry eyes symptoms.

Thank you Dr. Joseph Allen for sharif g your experience and expertise on how to manage dry eyes, I was feeling very hopeless thinking that it’s just something I have to live with that will never get better. Keep doing what you do💪🏻