What Makes A Sick Person's Eyes Roll Back In His Head? - Sharecare

Maybe your like

Advertisement Health TopicsEye and Vision question

What makes a sick person's eyes roll back in his head?

Ivan A. Schwab, MD on behalf of American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart Ophthalmology answer

The eyes of a sick person do not always roll back into the head, but for those that do, there may be several answers. The most likely answer and cause relates to sleep. When we sleep, we have what is known as Bell's phenomenon. First described by Charles Bell in 1823, our eyes deviate upward and outward with forced lid closure, and in many with more passive lid closure with sleep. The rolling of the eyes with some serious illnesses is probably mediated by the same mechanism as the Bell's phenomenon and resembles what happens in most of us while we sleep. As we close our lids, the eyes go up and out, at least to some extent. While we don't know exactly what that mechanism is, there may be involvement of two cranial nerves including the one that moves our facial muscles known as the facial nerve (number seven for those who are interested) and one of the nerves that helps move our eye though eye muscles (the third nerve for those who are interested). So the eyes may be rolling up in the head with a near-sleep state, although there could be other reasons as well. Show More

Continue Learning about Eye and Vision

What can you do about dry eyes?As we age, normal tear production tends to decrease, which can lead to dry eyes. Paying attention to simple things—such as the food you eat, the medic...Read More

Dry eye triggers and how to avoid themDry eye disease (sometimes called DED) is a condition that occurs when the eyes cannot create enough tears. Tears are necessary to keep the surface o...Read More

Geographic atrophy: preparing for an intravitreal injectionIn 2023, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved the first drugs that treat geographic atrophy, an advanced form of age-related macular degenerat...Read More

5 ways to prevent computer eyestrainWhether you’re meeting remotely with coworkers, paying bills online, or streaming your favorite drama, chances are you're spending a lot of hours star...Read More

Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.