What Makes A Sick Person's Eyes Roll Back In His Head? - Sharecare
Maybe your like
Advertisement Health TopicsEye and Vision
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
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
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 







Ivan A. Schwab, MD on behalf of American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart Ophthalmology Continue Learning about Eye and Vision
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.
Eye and Vision
Learn MoreTrending on Sharecare
article
Hispanic Americans, culturally competent care, and adult asthmaarticle
What happens during an asthma attack?article
How to work out when you have asthmaarticle
Hispanic Americans, nasal polyps, and culturally competent carearticle
Do you know the early signs of autism?article
How to think about your atopic dermatitis treatment goalsslideshow
4 signs you might have sexual dysfunctionslideshow
8 reasons to have sex right nowTag » Do Your Eyes Roll Backwards When You Sleep
-
Do Your Eyes Roll Backwards When You Are Asleep? - Quora
-
What Your Eyes Do When You Sleep? - True Eye Experts
-
Do Your Eyes Roll Back When You Blink? Answered! | Vision Boutique
-
Best Reasons Why Do Your Eyes Roll Back When You Sleep?
-
Eyes Rolling Back In Head: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment - Healthline
-
Why Do Your Eyes Roll Back When You Sleep? - Hack To Sleep
-
ELI5: Why Do Eyeballs Roll Back When We Close Our Eyes? - Reddit
-
ELI5: Do Our Eyes Roll Back When We Sleep? : R/explainlikeimfive
-
Why Do Your Eyes Roll Back When You Close Them? - Firmoo Answers
-
What Do Your Eyes Do As You Sleep? - CooperVision
-
How Does Sleep Affect Your Eyes - Feel Good Contacts
-
Why Do Your Eyes Roll Back When You Sleep? - Firmoo Answers
-
Eyes Rolling Back | Uncontrolled Eye Movement | Nystagmus
-
Why Your Eyes Roll Back When You Pass Out - Buoy Health