BEAUTY SLEEP
Common sleeping pill may stop your eyesight from deteriorating as you get older
Where you can get the sleeping aid and who should avoid taking it
MELATONIN could stop your eyesight from deteriorating as you age, scientists say.
The tablets are commonly prescribed to help with sleep problems, particularly insomnia.
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But scientists say the supplements may also improve your chances of maintaining your eyesight as you get older, as it could lower your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
AMD is a common condition that causes blurring or distortion in the middle part of your vision, usually striking people in their 50s and 60s.
It doesn't cause total blindness, but it can make activities like reading, watching TV and recognising people's faces more difficult.
Without treatment, the condition can get worse, making it a struggle to see anything in the middle of your vision.
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Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine assessed records of more than 200,000 people who either had no history of age-related eyesight decline or had developed the slow-progressing nonexudative AMD.
This also referred to as 'dry' AMD and is associated with slow vision loss over years or decades.
Fast progressing AMD is referred to as 'wet'.
The research team looked at whether people had taken melatonin any time between November 14, 2008, and November 14, 2023.
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Those who had used the sleeping aid tending to have taken it at least four times, each at least three months apart.
Of the 121,523 patients aged 50 or older with no history of AMD, regular melatonin use was linked to a 58 per cent lower risk of developing the condition.
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Melatonin also seemed to have a positive effect on those with dry AMD.
In the 66,253 patients with early eyesight degeneration, the sleeping pill was linked to a 56 per cent lower risk of the condition progressing.
Despite these promising results, researchers noted that their study - published in - did have some limitations.
Firstly, the study was observational, meaning it couldn't prove that melatonin could cut the risk of age-related vision loss, only showing a link between the two.
Symptoms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
AMD affects the middle part of your vision, and you can get it in one or both eyes.
The first symptom is often a blurred or distorted area in your vision.
If it gets worse, you might struggle to see anything in the middle of your vision.
Other symptoms include:
- Seeing straight lines as wavy or crooked
- Objects looking smaller than normal
- Colours seeming less bright than they used to
- Seeing things that are not there
See an optician if you're worries about your vision.
AMD has also been linked to several lifestyle factors, including diet and smoking, having high blood pressure and being overweight.
People taking melatonin may have also been better at maintaining their health, which would then reduce their risks of age-related eyesight loss.
Researchers say other lifestyle factors could have influenced their results so more work should be done to confirm the link between melatonin and a lower risk of AMD.
What is melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone that occurs naturally in your body and is involved in sleep.
At night, your levels of melatonin rise to help you drift off, before returning to normal during the day.
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This helps control when and how long you sleep for.
If you struggle with sleep problems such as insomnia, you may be able to take a synthetic form of the hormone for short periods of time to help you fall asleep and make you less likely to wake up at night.
Where can I get melatonin?
MELATONIN can help you drift off and stay asleep at night if you suffer with sleep issues.
In the UK, it's only available via prescription from your GP.
Most adults aged 55 years old or over can take melatonin to help short-term sleep problems.
Adults under the age of 55 and children with longer-term sleep problems can take the sleeping aid if a specialist recommends it.
For short-term insomnia you'll usually be prescribed melatonin for 1 to 4 weeks.
In some cases it can be prescribed for up to 13 weeks.
You should see a GP if you're having trouble sleeping and:
- Changing your sleeping habits has not helped your insomnia
- You've had trouble sleeping for months
- Your insomnia is affecting your daily life in a way that makes it hard for you to cope
GPs now rarely prescribe sleeping pills to treat insomnia, as they can have serious side effects and you can become dependent on them.
Sleeping pills are only prescribed for a few days, or weeks at the most, if:
- Your insomnia is very bad
- Other treatments have not worked
Melatonin is not suitable for some people.
To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you:
- Have ever had an allergic reaction to melatonin or any other medicine
- Have liver or kidney problems
- Have rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis or lupus, or any other autoimmune condition
Source: NHS
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