My mom went through a phase where she would shut her eyes frequently but not be asleep and when I discussed it with her doctor he said that with dementia their brain can be over stimulated because it is working double time to do things and to shut down some of the "visual noise" they will shut their eyes. That made perfect sense to me. With a normal brain, all of your senses work harmoniously together. With a damaged brain...they don't understand what they smell, what they taste, what they see, etc and it is a lot. To shut down one of those senses it might help them to focus on one of the others like listening to a show or eating a meal.
Short answer - no. It is not a common behavior at any age. However, it is an indicator that this needs further examination. Ask him why he closes his eyes. He probably needs to have his eyes examined. If his eyes are OK, then an evaluation by his general health practitioner is a good idea.
My mother (96) with moderate dementia began keeping her eyes closed about 4 years ago. At the time she was getting physical therapy. The therapist told me that because the eyelid is a muscle, if she persisted in keeping her eyes closed, eventually she wouldn't be able to open them.
....sigh.....
So I would tell her "open your eyes". If I had a nickel for every time that I told her to open her eyes - over the course of about 2 years - I would have a lot of nickels.
Eventually I gave up and now she keeps her eyes closed 24/7 except for the few seconds that I pry them open to apply her glaucoma drops.
I hope that your dad can be convinced to keep his eyes open before he loses the ability.
Ask his healthcare provider. And, check these out:
Why do dementia patients keep their eyes closed all the time?
If the person is living with dementia, their visual field may be dramatically reduced. Other conditions such as cataracts or glaucoma may have reduced their vision. Even if their vision is still clear, people at the end of life generally spend quite a bit of time with their eyes closed, either sleeping or resting.
Another website: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/how-dementia-changes-perception
In part, it says:
How can dementia change a person's perception?
How a person with dementia experiences (or perceives) things often changes as their dementia progresses. Many people with dementia experience changes in how they understand the world around them. This is because in dementia there is damage to the brain, which can cause the person to experience things differently.
Changes in perception include;
misperceptions and misidentifications / hallucinations / delusions / time-shifting
These problems can cause the person with dementia to say or do things that do not make sense to others. This can be frustrating, confusing and upsetting for the person, and for carers, especially if the person is experiencing a different reality to yours.
By responding in a supportive way, you can keep up their confidence and help them to cope with the misunderstanding.
While not entirely on point to your question - in general, good information for all of us:
Exploring the Negative Effects of Too Much Television By NOLA @ Home Care September 16, 2021
As kids, you heard your parents say it time and time again. “Don’t sit so close to the TV, you’ll ruin your eyes!” or “get outside and play… you’re going to turn into a couch potato!”. As much as we hate to admit it, it turns out that Mom and Dad were right, once again. Too much TV can truly “rot” your brain! So now, as our parents get older, and we morph into our caregiver role, it’s time for us to gently remind them that spending too much time in front of the “boob tube” can indeed have negative consequences.
Data shows that senior citizens, ages 65+, spend more than one third of their waking hours watching television. This is approximately three times more than that of younger adults. Research also shows that seniors do not find this time as relaxing or enjoyable as younger people do. Most middle aged and young adults retreat to the couch and get lost in a show to unwind and decompress from the stresses of the day. However, our older peers are using it as a meaningless way to fill the time in their day, with little fulfillment involved.
In order to help promote a healthier lifestyle for our loved ones, it’s important for us to understand the negative effects that too much time in front of the television actually has. Additionally, we need to provide alternate options available at their disposal to make their days more meaningful, productive, and fulfilling.
* * * Family/caregivers may observe vision decline in dementia patients. People living with dementia commonly experience changes to their vision beyond what’s expected as part of the normal aging process. As dementia-related illnesses cause progressive brain deterioration, a person will experience certain sight deficits because the brain is no longer processing what the eyes see in the same way. Some common problem areas include:
Depth perception
The patient may exhibit difficulty in navigating steps, grabbing objects, and distinguishing between two- and three-dimensional scenes. With the latter, for instance, the person may try to pick up flowers from a floral-printed tablecloth. Reduced peripheral range
Dementia steals a lot. Why are u concerned whether yr Father opens his eyes or closes his eyes. I would let him alone. Your Father being over stimulating vrs a small sense of peace is a very understandable. My Mother, w last stages of dementia, choose to quite eating. Would you put in a feeding tube?
Our family and caregivers let her close her eyes and rest. Sure the rest turned into 24hr. bed rest which allowed her to pass in her sleep 2 weeks later. Death was expected and came w peace which was her request.
It may relate to other health issues. My husband on occasions has trouble opening his eyes because his eyelid muscles are also affected by his movement disorder, Parkinsons. Thankfully it is rarely both at one time. We have had friends receive botox treatments which helped. I was very concerned at his last opthalmalogist appointment because, even with both eyes open, it seemed he could not even see the big E. The doctor said basically his eyes are not the problem, it is his brain's slow processing of what he sees due to PD related dementia.
I appreciate those sharing that it could simply be a person is having sensory overload. I had not heard that possibility but it makes sense and will keep it in mind as my husband's PD progresses.
As the brain loses it's ability to function, receptive information, through the senses like sight, smell, sound, touch, taste, and speech uses lots of energy. The simplest and easiest way for the brain to protect itself from too much is to shut eyes. This is the brain/body's way to survive or function more effectively when there is a sensory overload (which does not take much). It is a natural behavior to preserve strength for the brain. When talking, if eyes are shut, the brain can give more energy to speaking, etc.
As a retired eye doctor, I’m putting my two cents in. I would be surprised if he didn’t have dry eyes. Hylo is the best brand of over-the-counter eyedrops. Each drop is sterile and preservative free. They’re more viscous than many of the other eyedrops. For many people, they’re more comfortable than prescription eyedrops and a lot less expensive.
Another common problem as people age is double vision. Most eye doctors simply recommend an eyepatch, which is an awful idea. Find someone who knows what binasal occlusion is and how to use it correctly. Sometimes a week prism correction is needed.
If dad never had cataracts removed, I guarantee you he has cataracts that are disrupting his vision. Depending on his overall health, you might want to have those addressed or leave them alone.
Does dad have prescription glasses? Or is he supposed to have them and doesn’t wear them? Many older people who have had cataracts removed think they are supposed to be seeing perfectly without glasses, but that just isn’t so.
There are many other conditions that are more prevalent as we age and can be easily treated. If dad has a regular eye doctor start there. If that doctor can’t answer your questions get a referral to a specialist who can.
Try over-the-counter drops for dry eyes. I use Thera-Tears, individual vials with no preservatives (on advice of ophthalmologist). Apply to eyes in the morning and again at night. If that's not enough, he can use it more often during the day.
Why are you and your sister ‘so worried’, to quote your profile? Your father is 95 and his life is moving to a close. That is nothing to worry about. Be glad if he is not in pain, ‘his mind is bright’, and his behavior to you is still good. Closed eyes are not a problem. That’s something to be very very grateful for, not to worry about.
I would speak to this 95 y/o. Perhaps his site is troublesome and he does this for a reason. Could be anything from eye strain to allergies, to dry eyes, to vision changes, etc. If this elder is unable to adequately explain I would see an eye doc for a short check up.
There can be about 50 reasons for this. I myself have profound differing vision in my eyes. My right eye had a vitreous separation with scaring that made it's site profoundly different from a very healthy almost young at 81 left eye. Because they are so different, in some close up work or reading I will often automatically close my right eye.
So speak with your elder first. And ask his eye doc second. Good luck.
My Mom, suffering from Dementia, did this occasionally and when she did, she could have a normal conversation. It was felt it was an auditory response shutting out the things going on around her. Is Dad reading when he is sitting? If so, my DH feels he needs to rest his eyes.
Has Dad had a eye exam lately. Should be an Optomologist who is an MD. They can catch problem better than an Optometrist.
Your father has vision and eye disease......I have a condition that makes my eyes very sensitive to light. So it's more comfortable for me to keep my eyes closed under certain circumstances. You may also want to take him in for an eye exam to see if anything has changed. At 95, things can change on a dime and often do.
While this is common with dementia you do not mention that so I am going at this from another angle. It takes muscles to keep the eyes open. So if dad is tired he just may find it easier to keep his eyes closed. You also mention that dad has vision problems. If his vision has become worse it may be difficult to process what he is seeing. (things like double vision, blurry vision, dark spots, a lot of "floaters" these can all be annoying) And I guess I have to ask you this...have you asked him why he is keeping his eyes closed? If he is due for a doctor visit you might want to mention this. Many doctor offices can do a basic eye exam.
You have on your profile that you don’t think he has Alzheimer’s , and his mind is very bright . Have you asked him why he’s closing his eyes ? Is he aware he’s doing it ? Does he use any eye drops for dry eyes ?
I just googled it because I found it very interesting, it said the fourth stage of Alzheimer's, this is not uncommon. That or just staring into space and shutting out everyone.
Sounded like it was a way for them to shut out the world, that is getting very confusing for them
I don’t know if it’s common but that’s what my cousin does. She has early onset ALZ and started keeping her eyes closed all the time now, even while conversing. She’s 71.
....sigh.....
So I would tell her "open your eyes". If I had a nickel for every time that I told her to open her eyes - over the course of about 2 years - I would have a lot of nickels.
Eventually I gave up and now she keeps her eyes closed 24/7 except for the few seconds that I pry them open to apply her glaucoma drops.
I hope that your dad can be convinced to keep his eyes open before he loses the ability.
Why do dementia patients keep their eyes closed all the time?
If the person is living with dementia, their visual field may be dramatically reduced. Other conditions such as cataracts or glaucoma may have reduced their vision. Even if their vision is still clear, people at the end of life generally spend quite a bit of time with their eyes closed, either sleeping or resting.
Another website: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/how-dementia-changes-perception
In part, it says:
How can dementia change a person's perception?
How a person with dementia experiences (or perceives) things often changes as their dementia progresses. Many people with dementia experience changes in how they understand the world around them. This is because in dementia there is damage to the brain, which can cause the person to experience things differently.
Changes in perception include;
misperceptions and misidentifications / hallucinations / delusions / time-shifting
These problems can cause the person with dementia to say or do things that do not make sense to others. This can be frustrating, confusing and upsetting for the person, and for carers, especially if the person is experiencing a different reality to yours.
By responding in a supportive way, you can keep up their confidence and help them to cope with the misunderstanding.
While not entirely on point to your question - in general, good information for all of us:
Website: https://nolahomecare.com/blog/exploring-the-negative-effects-of-too-much-television/
In part, it says:
Exploring the Negative Effects of Too Much Television
By NOLA @ Home Care September 16, 2021
As kids, you heard your parents say it time and time again. “Don’t sit so close to the TV, you’ll ruin your eyes!” or “get outside and play… you’re going to turn into a couch potato!”. As much as we hate to admit it, it turns out that Mom and Dad were right, once again. Too much TV can truly “rot” your brain! So now, as our parents get older, and we morph into our caregiver role, it’s time for us to gently remind them that spending too much time in front of the “boob tube” can indeed have negative consequences.
Data shows that senior citizens, ages 65+, spend more than one third of their waking hours watching television. This is approximately three times more than that of younger adults. Research also shows that seniors do not find this time as relaxing or enjoyable as younger people do. Most middle aged and young adults retreat to the couch and get lost in a show to unwind and decompress from the stresses of the day. However, our older peers are using it as a meaningless way to fill the time in their day, with little fulfillment involved.
In order to help promote a healthier lifestyle for our loved ones, it’s important for us to understand the negative effects that too much time in front of the television actually has. Additionally, we need to provide alternate options available at their disposal to make their days more meaningful, productive, and fulfilling.
* * *
Family/caregivers may observe vision decline in dementia patients. People living with dementia commonly experience changes to their vision beyond what’s expected as part of the normal aging process. As dementia-related illnesses cause progressive brain deterioration, a person will experience certain sight deficits because the brain is no longer processing what the eyes see in the same way. Some common problem areas include:
Depth perception
The patient may exhibit difficulty in navigating steps, grabbing objects, and distinguishing between two- and three-dimensional scenes. With the latter, for instance, the person may try to pick up flowers from a floral-printed tablecloth.
Reduced peripheral range
Gena / Touch Matters
Your Father being over stimulating vrs
a small sense of peace is a very understandable.
My Mother, w last stages of dementia, choose to quite eating.
Would you put in a feeding tube?
Our family and caregivers let her
close her eyes and rest. Sure the rest turned into 24hr. bed rest which allowed her to pass in her sleep 2 weeks later.
Death was expected and came w peace which was her request.
I appreciate those sharing that it could simply be a person is having sensory overload. I had not heard that possibility but it makes sense and will keep it in mind as my husband's PD progresses.
Another common problem as people age is double vision. Most eye doctors simply recommend an eyepatch, which is an awful idea. Find someone who knows what binasal occlusion is and how to use it correctly. Sometimes a week prism correction is needed.
If dad never had cataracts removed, I guarantee you he has cataracts that are disrupting his vision. Depending on his overall health, you might want to have those addressed or leave them alone.
Does dad have prescription glasses? Or is he supposed to have them and doesn’t wear them? Many older people who have had cataracts removed think they are supposed to be seeing perfectly without glasses, but that just isn’t so.
There are many other conditions that are more prevalent as we age and can be easily treated. If dad has a regular eye doctor start there. If that doctor can’t answer your questions get a referral to a specialist who can.
As a note of interest to care givers, I recently meet an eye surgeon who made home visits to his non ambulatory patients.
If this elder is unable to adequately explain I would see an eye doc for a short check up.
There can be about 50 reasons for this. I myself have profound differing vision in my eyes. My right eye had a vitreous separation with scaring that made it's site profoundly different from a very healthy almost young at 81 left eye. Because they are so different, in some close up work or reading I will often automatically close my right eye.
So speak with your elder first. And ask his eye doc second. Good luck.
Has Dad had a eye exam lately. Should be an Optomologist who is an MD. They can catch problem better than an Optometrist.
Good luck to you.
It takes muscles to keep the eyes open. So if dad is tired he just may find it easier to keep his eyes closed.
You also mention that dad has vision problems. If his vision has become worse it may be difficult to process what he is seeing. (things like double vision, blurry vision, dark spots, a lot of "floaters" these can all be annoying)
And I guess I have to ask you this...have you asked him why he is keeping his eyes closed?
If he is due for a doctor visit you might want to mention this. Many doctor offices can do a basic eye exam.
Have you asked him why he’s closing his eyes ? Is he aware he’s doing it ? Does he use any eye drops for dry eyes ?
Sounded like it was a way for them to shut out the world, that is getting very confusing for them