Sleeping without a pillow could have surprising health benefit, study suggests

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. Dr. Wendy Troxel shares why getting the recommended amount of nightly shuteye doesn't always leave people refreshed, and outlines the most common reasons for poor sleep quality. Sleeping with, or without, a pillow may have a sneaky impact on your health. New research suggests that skipping the pillow could help prevent the development of glaucoma, an eye disease that damages the optic nerve and can cause vision loss or blindness. Glaucoma can be caused by elevated eye pressure, thinning of the optic nerve or fluid buildup, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation. SLEEP PATTERNS COULD PREDICT RISK FOR DEMENTIA, CANCER AND STROKE, STUDY SUGGESTS The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, found that eye pressure was higher in glaucoma patients who slept with two pillows compared to lying flat. Blood flow to the eye decreased in