Picture this: you just dozed off, finally getting some much-needed shut-eye after a long day. But suddenly you wake up to the sensation of your eyes rolling back into your head. What gives? Let's take a deep dive into why our eyes sometimes roll back while sleeping.
What Causes It?
When we're asleep, our bodies are in complete relaxation mode. That includes our eye muscles too! They become very relaxed and sometimes that can lead to them rolling back involuntarily. Who would've thought that even our eyeballs need some chill time?
This is called the Bell's phenomenon, named after Sir Charles Bell who first documented it in the 19th century. Basically, it's an automatic reflex designed to protect your eyes when they're closed during sleep or anesthesia.
Can It Be Dangerous?
As with most bodily functions, there are always potential risks involved - but rest assured this one isn't anything to lose sleep over (I couldn't resist). While it may seem alarming at first glance (or rather at first feel), there's no real harm caused by this phenomenon other than momentary discomfort or confusion upon waking.
It's worth noting though that rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder affects roughly 0.5% of adults and is characterized by agitation and dream enactment behaviors during REM sleep, including vocalizations and complex body movements like kicking or flailing arms around while dreaming... interestingly enough though - rarely does this result in rolling eyed syndrome!
Is Rolling Eyed Sleep Common?
Research shows that about 60-70% of people will experience their own version of "Bell's Phenomenon" at least once in their lifetime(interesting huh?). Some people may simply notice just slight fluttering under their eyelids while others encounter dramatic backward rolling sensations seemingly induced by a scene out of The Exorcist!
How To Prevent It?
The good news is there's not a lot to be done with this particular one. Rolling eyes tend to happen spontaneously and doesn't require any preventive measures or treatments(unless you find something we haven't!). Shining a bright light in your eyes can sometimes interrupt the reflex, but given that it only lasts for a few seconds or less - this action may not have any obvious impact.
Recap
In short, rolling eyes while sleeping is simply an automatic protective response of our bodies during sleep. Though it may seem strange and even unsettling at times, remember that it poses no real harm and is actually quite common (60-70% common!). So go ahead, relax those lids fully next time when you snooze because Bell's phenomenon has got your back...or rather your eyeballs (I know lame joke, please roll your eyes now just once more!).
Key Takeaways:
- Rolling eyed syndrome happens due to relaxation mode of eye muscles during sleep.
- There are no real risks associated with “Bell’s Phenomenon” other than momentary discomfort
- Almost 60-70% of people will experience their own version of "Bell's Phenomenon"
- In general "rolling-eyed" while sleeping requires no treatment except letting nature take its course