HomeAre sleep masks bad for your eyes?
Many of us use sleep masks to help get better sleep. Others consider earplugs and eye masks on long flights to fall asleep. Different products are available today; many patients receive spa treatments, such as cooling eye masks. But if we look beyond the obvious benefits, we might uncover that some of us may not agree with these products. If you’re asking yourself whether sleep masks are bad for your eyes, you should keep reading this article. Below, we share our honest opinion about this popular product!
Why might you consider wearing a sleep mask?
Let’s start by discussing the advantages of a sleep mask. These products were created to help you manage swelling and dark circles around the eyes. But throughout time, many variations appeared and led to a core use: sleep masks to help you sleep better. So, if you’re unsure why you might need to wear a sleep mask, you should learn about the following benefits. Remember that such advantages only apply to premium, science-backed sleeping masks.
1. Sleep masks minimize distractions
People with difficulty falling asleep are tempted to check their mobile devices and scroll on social media. It is easy to avoid this situation by getting a sleep mask. The core benefit of wearing a sleep mask is that it minimizes distractions. You will no longer be disturbed by your phone’s screen, as it will help you resist picking it up simply by not seeing the screen lit up.
2. Sleep masks may have an impact on insomnia
If you’re struggling with this problem, you probably know that your senses are heightened when you have difficulty falling asleep. Luckily, a sleep mask can help eliminate extra distractions and provide much-needed sensory deprivation for falling asleep. Following the idea above, sleep masks help with insomnia.
3. Sleep masks are your ally when travelling
Another benefit of wearing a sleep mask is that it’s travel-friendly. Most people sleep comfortably only at home, so they will most likely struggle to rest properly when travelling. You should know that your body will go into the so-called “night watch” mode when sleeping in a new environment. This means you won’t find it easy to fall asleep. A sleep mask can help you overcome this challenge and fall asleep when needed.
What are the hidden disadvantages of sleep masks?
As you can see, there are some excellent reasons why you might wear a sleep mask. But sometimes, that’s not enough to make an informed decision. We can say from our experience this isn’t a perfect product and might come with some disadvantages. Remember that unscientifically designed products can pose serious health risks. Most sleep masks can put a dangerous amount of pressure on your eyes.
1. Sleep masks might cause allergic reactions
A serious concern about sleep masks is that these products can cause allergic reactions. These products are made from several materials, which can cause the fabric to trigger an allergic reaction. Sensitive people should use sleep masks with caution or avoid these products altogether. Or check the materials used in making the mask and ensure that none will cause an allergic reaction.
2. Sleep masks might cause blurred vision
If you read beauty blogs frequently, you most likely know people debate whether sleep masks harm eye health. Overall, a professional sleep mask might not lead to concerning side effects. However, if you wear a too-tight mask, you could risk your eye health. Consistent pressure on your eyes by a tight sleeping mask may lead to blurred vision. Even more concerning is that you might risk bruising your skin and damaging your eye health in the long term. If you want to wear this mask, choose a product that fits your head perfectly. In this way, you will diminish the chances of getting damaged or blurred vision.
3. Sleep masks might cause irritation and even infection
A noticeable side effect of sleep masks is that they rest on your skin the entire night. This can clog the skin around your eyes due to sweat, oil, or dirt buildup. So, if you don’t clean your sleep masks frequently, the bacteria will accumulate and lead to skin irritation and acne breakouts. Moreover, you might have an eye infection if you use a sleep mask without cleaning it.
The bottom line: Is it wrong to wear sleep masks?
These are the main advantages and disadvantages of wearing sleep masks at night. Experts say that constant pressure applied to your eyes could increase the progression of pressure-sensitive eye disease. This can lead to serious health concerns, including corneal distortion and permanent vision damage. It is safe to say that short-term sleep mask use won’t damage your health. If you want to be as safe as it gets when wearing a sleep mask, you should invest in a quality, premium product. Such masks are designed from sustainable materials that won’t harm your skin and eye health. Avoid highly affordable products, as these might cause more harm than good. We recommend you research different products before choosing one.
If you liked this blog post or have some tips & tricks about sleep masks, you shouldn’t hesitate to comment below!
