TITLE:
Do Eye Masks (Smart Googles) Provide Repose That Deserve the Name Sleep?
AUTHORS:
Kathy Sexton-Radek, Dean Jensen
KEYWORDS:
Light, Sleep Quality, Student Sleep, Eye Mask
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.18 No.1,
January
20,
2026
ABSTRACT: Sleep health is essential to overall health. For some three in ten adults, falling asleep is a difficulty. As the physiological process of falling asleep first entails relaxation then, timing is typical of the person’s bedtime which marks the start of the sleep cycle or circadian rhythm. However, behavioral factors of stress and worry are sufficient to perturb an individual’s nature circadian rhythm of sleep then wake cycles. The marketplace is filled with gadgets and advice to remedy sleep difficulties. Some current gadgets garnering increasing popularity are the eye mask and the technically advanced eye mask or smart goggles that provide heat and massage to the eye orbit area that soothes the sleeper and enhances their ability to relax and fall asleep. This study entailed an investigation of the utility of the smart google to enhance sleep onset. A random sample of young adult university students assigned to smart google use/no use for one week completed the study. The smart google was preferred as much as it was found to be heavy (uncomfortable) based on participant ratings. Comparisons of ratings of the smart google use and sleep quality are presented.