<p><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S154201241270263X">Nocturnal lagophthalmos</a> is the search term you're looking for.  But it's less that they "can" fall asleep with their eyes open and more that they "can't" close their eyes during sleep:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Nocturnal lagophthalmos is the inability to close the eyelids during
  sleep. Lagophthalmos is associated with exposure keratopathy, poor
  sleep, and persistent exposure-related symptoms. There are a variety
  of causes of lagophthalmos, grouped as proptosis/eye exposure
  etiologies and palpebral insufficiency etiologies.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-02T21:02:55.927Z
2014-02-02T23:35:17.030Z
2014-02-02T23:35:17.030Z
Keegan Keplinger
<p>It is generally observed that animals and human alike close their eyes when they sleep. It looks seemingly natural.</p>

<p>But I have heard (and might have observed one too, just not sure whether he was actually sleeping or not) that there are certain people who can fall asleep with there eyes open.</p>

<p>So, is it possible to sleep with your eyes open?</p>

<sleep><eye-movement>
Is it possible to sleep with your eyes open?
Bleeding Fingers
# Is it possible to sleep with your eyes open?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-02-02)

It is generally observed that animals and human alike close their eyes when they sleep. It looks seemingly natural.

But I have heard (and might have observed one too, just not sure whether he was actually sleeping or not) that there are certain people who can fall asleep with there eyes open.

So, is it possible to sleep with your eyes open?

**Tags:** sleep, eye-movement


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-02-02. Score: 7

[Nocturnal lagophthalmos](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S154201241270263X) is the search term you're looking for. But it's less that they "can" fall asleep with their eyes open and more that they "can't" close their eyes during sleep:

> Nocturnal lagophthalmos is the inability to close the eyelids during
> sleep. Lagophthalmos is associated with exposure keratopathy, poor
> sleep, and persistent exposure-related symptoms. There are a variety
> of causes of lagophthalmos, grouped as proptosis/eye exposure
> etiologies and palpebral insufficiency etiologies.


---

