• Question: why do we close our eyes when we sleep?

    Asked by to Anna, Iain on 21 Mar 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Anna Middleton

      Anna Middleton answered on 21 Mar 2014:

      Hi chloe
      There are many reason why we close our eyes when we sleep but one of the main ones is that in order to regulate our sleep we need the room to be dark, closing your eyes can help cut out light. Closing our eyes also protects them and stops them from drying out and also we don’t need to be able to see when we are asleep. There are however, some people who don’t close their eyes when they are asleep (and they are definitely asleep) so it is possible to sleep with your eyes open.

    • Photo: Iain Moal

      Iain Moal answered on 21 Mar 2014:

      I can think of two really good reasons. The first is to stop light getting in, and the second is to protect the eyes.

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