DISTURBANCE OF SLEEP IN BLINDNESS

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and se verity of sleep disturbanc e in blind subjects and its relation to the form and duration of visua l loss. METHODS: Of 403 blind subjects (visual acuity of less than 20/ 200 or a visual field of less than 5 degrees) recruited for the study, 15 were excluded because of affective disorder as identified by Montg omery Asberg Depression Scale. The remaining 388 subjects and a compar ison group of 44 normally sighted individuals underwent an interview, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire was administered. Sleep disturbance was classified as mild, moderate, or severe. RESULT S: Disturbance of sleep was recorded in 189 (48.7%) of the blind subje cts. The prevalence was higher and the sleep disturbance was more seve re in those with no perception of light than in those with light perce ption or better visual acuity. In the comparison group, four (9.1%) ha d mild sleep disturbance only. The differences between blind subjects and normally sighted individuals were highly significant (P <.001), Th e most common sleep-related problem among the blind subjects was inter rupted sleep, followed by increased sleep latency, short sleep duratio n, and daytime naps. Among the blind subjects, no cor relation was fou nd between the extent of sleep disturbance and the duration and patter n of visual loss. CONCLUSIONS: Blind subjects who retain light percept ion, as well as those with total loss of vision, have a high frequency of sleep disturbance, although disorder is more common and more sever e in subjects with no light perception. Management of the sleep distur bance may improve the quality of life in the visually handicapped. (Am I Ophthalmol 1998;126:707-712. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.).