Sleep deprivation and corneal chronobiology: reevaluating overnight corneal changes
2025

Sleep Deprivation and Corneal Changes

Sample size: 64 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Aszalós Zsuzsa Zakarné, Kolozsvári Bence Lajos, Lénárt Vivien, Pásztor Dorottya, Hassan Ziad, Surányi Éva, Chaker Reda, Fodor Mariann

Primary Institution: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen

Hypothesis

How does sleep deprivation affect circadian variations in corneal parameters?

Conclusion

Sleep deprivation leads to significant circadian changes in corneal properties, even without eyelid closure.

Supporting Evidence

  • Significant circadian changes were observed in keratometric parameters.
  • Corneal thickness peaked before 6 AM and reached its minimum after 12 PM.
  • Changes in corneal parameters persisted despite lack of sleep.
  • Participants included both night-shift workers and regular sleepers.

Takeaway

When people don't sleep, their eyes still change throughout the night, just like they do when they do sleep.

Methodology

This was a prospective cohort study with 64 healthy participants undergoing multiple corneal measurements over 24 hours.

Potential Biases

Potential biases include the lack of control for factors like menstrual cycle, diet, and environmental conditions.

Limitations

The study was limited to a single center and only included European descendants, without considering various physiological factors.

Participant Demographics

Participants were healthy individuals aged 21 to 76, primarily students and employees, with a mix of night-shift workers.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.0001

Statistical Significance

p<0.0001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1038/s41598-024-84431-y

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