# How vital is closing your eyes to fall asleep? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 31, 2014, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699 "2014-05-31T12:50:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699/1 "2014-05-31T12:50:06Z")
It’s such an innate, natural, hard-wired thing we do to block out light, distraction and to protect our eyes during unconsciousness, but I’m sure the blind don’t just fall asleep with their eyes open (or might they be able to with less effort than the sighted)? Also what of those who’ve lost their eyelids due to an accident like a fire? Is there some physiological mechanism linked to sleeping and closing your eyes, or is it less crucial to falling asleep than it seems? And though I’ve never seen anyone asleep with their eyes wide open, I know Gandalf can do it. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699/2 "2014-05-31T13:43:43Z")
Often, people unable to close their eyes will tape them shut before they go to bed. While you don’t need to close your eyes to sleep, they will get dry and irritated if you don’t. My dad sleeps with his eyes open much, but not all of the time. Scary as hell the first time you see it. But it served him well in school. ---
**Author:** ![Whitney\_Harper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@Whitney\_Harper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whitney_Harper)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699/3 "2014-05-31T16:10:20Z")
I don’t know, but I always use an eye mask. I think when the eyes are closed, and it is dark, it signals the brain that it is time to go to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699/4 "2014-05-31T16:30:58Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Often, people unable to close their eyes will tape them shut before they go to bed. While you don’t need to close your eyes to sleep, they will get dry and irritated if you don’t. > > My dad sleeps with his eyes open much, but not all of the time. Scary as hell the first time you see it. But it served him well in school. Does he fall asleep with his eyes open, or do they open after he dozes off? I believe I’ve seen the latter happen once or twice with certain people, but it seemed more a fluke. I know you’re an RN (IIRC), do you know what is done for those that have lost their eyelids altogether? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699/5 "2014-05-31T16:47:12Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Does he fall asleep with his eyes open, or do they open after he dozes off? I believe I’ve seen the latter happen once or twice with certain people, but it seemed more a fluke. > > I know you’re an RN (IIRC), do you know what is done for those that have lost their eyelids altogether? He can intentionally fall asleep with his eyes open. I wasn’t joking about school - he says he slept through many classes while the teacher thought he was staring off into space, or even better, reading a textbook. I don’t know of any conditions in which a person permanently loses an eyelid without losing their eye. I won’t say it’s never happened, but it’s outside my realm of experience. I’m going to guess that a specialized eye patch would be required in such a case. Sometimes, like with a stroke or certain kinds of facial paralysis, people can lose the ability to \*close \*their eye (usually one, but I bet it’s happened to some poor unfortunate soul bilaterally.) As I said, we’ll show them how to tape it shut so they’re more comfortable while they sleep and the eye remains lubricated. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699/6 "2014-05-31T18:52:51Z")
I sometimes sleep with my eyes open. Buggs other people when I do. The neat thing is some of my grandchildren sleep with their eyes open. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699/7 "2014-05-31T18:53:40Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > He can intentionally fall asleep with his eyes open. I wasn’t joking about school - he says he slept through many classes while the teacher thought he was staring off into space, or even better, reading a textbook. His REM stage must’ve terrified his classmates. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699/8 "2014-05-31T18:54:45Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > I sometimes sleep with my eyes open. Buggs other people when I do. The neat thing is some of my grandchildren sleep with their eyes open. How? Is there some technique you use. The thought of doing so seems damn near impossible. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699/9 "2014-05-31T19:14:26Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > His REM stage must’ve terrified his classmates. :eek: Y’know…I’ve never thought of that. Never seen him in REM. Either he sleeps lightly in that state, or I’ve just been lucky! ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699/10 "2014-05-31T19:59:57Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > :eek: Y’know…I’ve never thought of that. Never seen him in REM. Either he sleeps lightly in that state, or I’ve just been lucky! :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699/11 "2014-05-31T22:09:47Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > My dad sleeps with his eyes open much, but not all of the time. Scary as hell the first time you see it. But it served him well in school. I had a friend with this talent. It scared the heck out of her husband the first time he saw it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699/12 "2014-05-31T23:42:39Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > I sometimes sleep with my eyes open. Buggs other people when I do. The neat thing is some of my grandchildren sleep with their eyes open. My little sister slept with her eyes half open, and yes, it could be creepy. My youngest daughter - my sister’s namesake - does the same. My husband is convinced there’s something wrong with the kid! :eek: (Finally, the perfect smiley!) ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699/13 "2014-06-01T00:08:55Z")
I sleep with eyes open without a mask. During surgery, I always tell the op room people to tape my eyes shut. Used to get complements (?) from my freshman Calc teaching assistant about my ability to pay rapt attention even when he waved his hand rapidly back and forth in front of my face. Seemed to have gotten this talent from my grandfather who could sleep anywhere/anytime with the eyes open also. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699/14 "2014-06-01T00:40:19Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > How? Is there some technique you use. The thought of doing so seems damn near impossible. No I just go to sleep. Found out that I sleep with my eyes open while going to the maritime academy. It bugged some of my class mates when the would see me sleeping with my eyes open. They would wake me to ask if I was OK. Sometimes all they could see was the whites of my eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699/15 "2014-06-01T00:43:20Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > My little sister slept with her eyes half open, and yes, it could be creepy. My youngest daughter - my sister’s namesake - does the same. My husband is convinced there’s something wrong with the kid! :eek: (Finally, the perfect smiley!) My dad use to tell the story about an 2nd Assistant Engineer on a freighter who would sleep with his eyes open. Dad hated having to wake him to go on watch. ---
**Author:** ![MsBatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@MsBatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsBatt)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699/16 "2014-06-01T03:36:48Z")
Never seen a human do this, but dogs sleep with their eyes open a LOT. Pretty weird to look at, too. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699/17 "2014-06-01T15:51:48Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > I had a friend with this talent. It scared the heck out of her husband the first time he saw it. 😃 My wife has done this. She is the type that can fall asleep anywhere, any time. I have even witnessed her fall asleep briefly while walking! I’m jealous as I have an incredibly difficult time falling asleep. When we go to bed, she’s asleep within thirty seconds while I stare at the ceiling for hours. But the first time she fell asleep with her eyes open I thought she was dead. Scared the crap out of me! ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-vital-is-closing-your-eyes-to-fall-asleep/689699/18 "2014-06-01T20:25:09Z")
My oldest would sleep with his eyes two slits when he as a baby/toddler.