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December 16, 2025
1 min read
Key takeaways:
- An online survey found significant links between allergic conjunctivitis symptoms and poor sleep quality.
- Future research should investigate the cycle of which is causing which.
BOSTON — Allergic conjunctivitis may be related to sleep disturbances in what may be a “self-perpetuating loop,” according to a poster at Academy 2025.
“Allergic conjunctivitis is a very prevalent ocular surface disease,” Leena Panaich, OD, director of clinical integration at Lynn Valley Optometry, Canada, told Healio. “We see it a lot during allergy seasons and flare-ups. But in optometry, it’s never been studied in the context of more systemic health and in terms of sleep.”
To investigate the association between allergic conjunctivitis and sleep, Panaich and colleagues conducted an online survey, distributed in office and through social media, between March 17, 2025, and May 1, 2025. A total of 466 people from the U.S., Canada and other countries responded to the survey.
The survey asked about hallmark symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis, including itchiness, redness and eyelid swelling, as well as participants’ sleep quality, duration, restfulness, insomnia and diagnosed sleep disorders.
According to the analysis, allergic conjunctivitis symptoms had significant associations with:
- sleep quality (P .001);
- sleep duration (P = .01); and
- difficulty falling asleep (P = .05).
Women had double the odds of poor sleep, and adults between the ages of 41 and 60 years were impacted more, according to the researchers.
“I think it was a really good wake-up call in terms of, being the OD, how do we tie into systemic health?” Panaich said. “How do we not only treat the symptoms, but how do we look at our patient on a broader level and see, there is this inflammation, and it may also be triggering this cascade of poor sleep?”
Panaich acknowledged that question may pose a “chicken or the egg” conundrum.
“Was it the poor sleep that caused the inflammation … or was it the opposite?” Panaich said. “I think that’s a really good future direction I would like to take this study in.”
For more information:
Leena Panaich, OD, can be reached at leenakpanaich@gmail.com.
Sources/Disclosures
Source:
Panaich L, et al. From allergies to insomnia: A wake-up call on allergic conjunctivitis and sleep. Presented at: Academy 2025; Oct. 8-11, 2025; Boston.
Disclosures:
Panaich reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the study for all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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