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Sleep and ocular health

In a continuation of our short new series looking at the impact of lifestyles on eye health, Dr Sunni Patel describes a growing area of research linking sleep and eye health

Sleep is a complex physiological process orchestrated by the brain, involving distinct stages that repeat cyclically throughout the night.1 These stages, classified into non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, each serve unique functions crucial for overall health and well-being.

 

NREM sleep comprises the initial stages of the sleep cycle, characterised by reduced brain activity and muscle tone. It is further divided into three stages, each playing a vital role in facilitating physical restoration, memory consolidation and hormonal regulation.

During Stage N1, individuals experience a transitional state between wakefulness and sleep, marked by slow eye movements and relaxed muscle tone. While brief, this phase sets the stage for deeper sleep to follow.

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