[Spud]

Spud  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
This a question for the scientists:

A bit gory but what would happen if you cut someone's eyelids off and then gave them loads of sleeping pills?

What do you think?

[maffsolo]

Fall asleep with thier eyes wide open

[Karen W.]

My children have been known to sleep with their eyes wide open... Now I do not understand how but it is very creepy looking to see...LOL...I used to go in and close their eyelids with my fingers, but within moments they would be open again.. sometimes half open sometimes slits but most of the time pretty widely open...

[JnA]

This often happened to people in the SCI unit. The only real problem is the eye drying out.. which would make them red and itchy.. though after a few good blinks the tears ducts did what they were supposed to and relubricated the eye.

I often wondered if there was any long term damage, but I don't think it was an area studied.

[Karen W.]

Thanks JnA...