A recent large-scale prospective cohort study utilizing UK Biobank data has shed new light on the role of sleep duration and quality in the development of age-related ocular diseases – including cataract, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). With over 380,000 participants followed for a median of 12.6 years, the study provides robust longitudinal evidence suggesting that sleep patterns are significant modifiable risk factors in ocular aging.
The analysis – conducted by a team at the Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai – revealed a clear U-shaped association between sleep duration and the risk of cataract, POAG, and DR, with seven hours per night emerging as the optimal duration people should be sleeping.
Both shorter (<6 hours) and longer (≥9 hours) sleep durations were linked to significantly increased risks. For example, sleeping less than four hours per day was associated with a 19% increased risk of cataract, while sleeping for more than nine hours was associated with elevated risks for both POAG and DR. There was no significant association observed between sleep duration and AMD.
Poor sleep quality was independently associated with increased risks of cataract and POAG. While the association with DR was suggestive, it did not reach statistical significance. Notably, frequent insomnia and daytime dozing emerged as two specific sleep behavior traits that increased the risk of cataract, POAG, and – to a lesser extent – AMD.
The findings emphasize the importance of assessing sleep habits in routine ophthalmic evaluations, especially among patients at risk of age-related ocular diseases. Interventions aimed at improving sleep hygiene and reducing systemic inflammation could help to offer novel strategies for delaying ocular aging and preserving vision.
