Sleep improvement strategies for people with vision impairment: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVES

To explore existing strategies for managing sleep disorders in individuals with vision impairment (VI), identifying interventions, geographical trends and research gaps.

DESIGN

Scoping review.

DATA SOURCES: Medline ALL (Ovid), Embase and Web of Science Core Collection, with supplementary searches in Google Scholar. The final search was completed on 28 November 2025.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Original research studies examining strategies to manage sleep disorders in adults (≥18 years) with VI, published in English. Studies focusing on animal models or unrelated to sleep management were excluded.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full texts using Covidence, extracted data using a predefined form and resolved discrepancies by consensus. A narrative synthesis approach was used to summarise findings by intervention type, study design and outcomes.

RESULTS

Of 4368 records screened, 16 studies met inclusion criteria. Participants ranged from 18 years to 85 years (median 40.5). Most studies included individuals with no light perception, though VI definitions were often inconsistent. Pharmacological interventions dominated (13/16, 81.3%), mainly melatonin or melatonin receptor agonists, with some use of zopiclone, low-dose benzodiazepines and tricyclic antidepressants. Non-pharmacological approaches were under-represented, including bright light exposure (n=1), virtual Hatha yoga (n=1) and caffeine modulation (n=1). Substantial variation existed in sleep assessment methods.

CONCLUSIONS

This scoping review highlights the predominant focus on pharmacological treatments, especially melatonin, while non-pharmacological strategies remain underexplored. Future research should explore accessible, non-pharmacological interventions and address sleep health inequities faced by individuals with VI.

REGISTRATION: 10.17605/OSF.IO/7E83R.