Study finds those with visual impairment twice as likely to experience poor sleep quality

Researchers from the Jordan University of Science and Technology have reported a higher level of sleep disturbance among those with sight loss as part of a new study published in Eye.

The scientists recruited a group of 277 adults with visual impairment and a control group of 278 individuals.

Both groups received eye examinations and completed the Arabic version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index – which asks participants a range of questions about their sleep patterns, nighttime routine and sleep disturbances.

The researchers found that more than half (58%) of study participants with visual impairment experienced poor sleep compared to just over one in three control subjects (37%).

The study authors determined that those with visual impairment were twice as likely as those without visual impairment to experience poor sleep quality – defined as a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score of higher than five.

The researchers found that moderate visual impairment and blindness were “significantly associated” with poor sleep quality. Blind individuals were three times as likely as controls to experience poor sleep quality.

The researchers also highlighted that individuals with diabetic retinopathy and combined ocular conditions were particularly susceptible to poor sleep quality.

“Comprehensive management strategies addressing sleep in visually impaired patients are essential for improving their overall wellbeing,” the authors concluded.