Why do I wake up with dry eyes

Why do I wake up with dry eyes

Waking up with dry eyes can be uncomfortable and start your day off badly. But what’s causing your eyes to feel dry in the morning? Could it be a condition or something related to how you sleep? Let’s take a look.

What causes dry eyes?

Dry eyes can have many different causes, from not drinking enough water to a thyroid disorder, and each impacts the eyes differently.

Common causes for dry eyes are:

• Environmental factors.
• Lifestyle factors.
• Medical conditions.
• Medicine side effects.

Dry eyes are most often caused by a lack of tear production not keep the eyes moist and causes them to become irritated, but they can also be a result of insufficient tear quality. A variety of components make up tears, including water, lipids and mucus, so if one of them is missing, tears can be ineffective at keeping eyes lubricated and clean, causing a feeling of irritation and redness.

If you experience dry eyes after travelling on an aeroplane, cycling or being outside in cold, dry weather, they will normally get better themselves in under 24 hours once you’ve returned to a normal setting. However, if you’re regularly experiencing dry eyes, there is usually another underlying cause that needs to be found.

Conditions and medicines that can cause dry eyes

Several medical conditions can cause dry eyes, so if you’re experiencing dry eyes long-term and have other symptoms or a family history of certain conditions, you should see your GP for advice.

Some common conditions causing dry eyes include:

• Blepharitis.
• Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD).
• Chalazion blocking your tear duct.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Lupus.
• Thyroid disorders.

Some medications can also cause dry eyes as a side effect, including:

• Antihistamines.
• Decongestants.
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
• Contraceptives.
• Antidepressants.

If you’re taking any medication and are experiencing dry eyes, you should see your healthcare provider to discuss alternatives, as there may be better options for you.

What causes dry eyes when you wake up?

While some people may not have chronic dry eyes or dry eye syndrome, they may still have dry eyes in the morning. It’s relatively normal to have dry eyes when you wake up, as your blinking is reduced while you sleep, so your eyes aren’t being cleared as well and may feel dry when you wake up. However, if your eyes don’t feel right for the rest of the day or are painfully dry when you wake up, there may be another factor affecting your eye health that can be changed.

Some common reasons for waking up with dry eyes include:

• Nocturnal Lagophthalmos, i.e. sleeping with your eyes open.
• Dehydration.
• Low humidity in the bedroom.
• Air conditioning or heating.
• Sleeping in contact lenses.
• Allergies to bedding.

If you sleep with a partner, it can be easy to tell if you sleep with your eyes open; however, this is relatively uncommon, so you should also investigate the quality of the air in your room if you regularly have dry eyes when you wake up, especially in summer and winter. Air conditioning and heating can both cause your eyes to feel dry as the air is drier, causing your tears to evaporate more quickly.

Dehydration is also a common cause of dry eyes, as water is an essential part of a healthy body and is needed for your skin to stay stretchy, your organs to function and for tear production. You can easily tell if you’re dehydrated by pinching the skin on the back of your hand; if it pings back, you’re hydrated, if it stays in shape and slowly moves back to cover your hand, you need to drink more water.

If you have a new pillow or pillowcase and have begun experiencing dry eyes, it’s also possible you have an allergy to the materials, so you should look for allergy-free alternatives for restful sleep and to prevent dry eyes.

Can you prevent dry eyes?

Prevention is often better than cure, so rather than heading straight to the pharmacy to treat your dry eyes, you should take preventative measures to stop yourself from waking up with dry eyes in the mornings.

To prevent dry eyes, you should:

• Make sure you drink enough water each day (at least 1.5-2 litres).
• Consciously blink regularly when looking at screens for extended periods.
• Follow the 20-20-20 rule – look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes to reduce eye strain.
• Don’t use heating or the AC overnight (try a hot water bottle or open the window).
• Put a humidifier in your bedroom to reduce dry air.
• Wear wrap-around glasses when outdoors in cold, dry, windy conditions.
• Make sure your computer screen is around 20 inches from your face and at eye level to reduce eye strain.
• Eat a balanced diet including vitamin A, which benefits eye health.
• Eat plenty of Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish and walnuts) to improve tear quality.

If you wake up each morning with dry eyes or are simply experiencing regular dry eyes and can’t work out why, try each of these tips to try to prevent the dry eyes from worsening. Even if you don’t have dry eyes, following these eye care tips is essential to prevent dry eyes for as long as possible, as some people are more likely to develop dry eyes than others.

Who is more susceptible to developing dry eyes?

Anybody can suffer from dry eyes, but certain groups of people are more likely to experience them than others.

People over 50 are more likely to have dry eyes as tear production decreases with age, so if you’re over 50, try to follow preventative measures, but also get advice for your dry eyes from an eye health specialist as soon as possible to prevent other eye health problems. Eyesight also worsens as people age, so older people are more likely to have laser eye surgery, cataract surgery and wear contact lenses, each of which can contribute to dry eyes.

Women are also more likely to have dry eyes in their lives, as dry eyes can be caused by hormonal changes. With menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause and things like contraceptives and HRT, women experience extreme hormonal changes throughout their lives, each of which can contribute to dry eyes.

Can you treat dry eyes?

You cannot cure dry eyes permanently; however, there are some very effective treatments that an eye specialist can recommend. Eye drops known as artificial tears are the most commonly used treatment and can effectively relieve symptoms of dry eyes. However, although they can be bought over the counter, eye drops work in different ways to treat different causes, so it’s best to see an eye specialist about your dry eyes to find the best eye drops for you.

Another option that may help to relieve mild symptoms is using a warm compress. The warmth from the damp cloth helps to improve the flow of natural oils from the glands in your eyelids, which can stabilise the tear film and reduce dryness. Additionally, warm compresses can help increase blood circulation around the eyes, promoting overall eye health.

Treating dry eyes is essential for your well-being, as dry eyes can not only be greatly bothersome but can also contribute to other conditions. When your eyes are dry, they’re not being cleaned properly, so bacteria and dust can remain on the surface of your eye rather than being removed to the side by the mucus in tears. If left on the surface of your eye, the bacteria can cause your eyes to become infected, leading to conditions like conjunctivitis, which can be painful and greatly affect your quality of life.

Alone, dry eyes cannot cause blindness; however, they can affect the quality of your vision as well as cause infections that may lead to vision loss if left untreated. So if you have prolonged dry eyes, see an eye specialist as soon as you can.

Need to see an eye specialist? Contact the Eye and Dental Clinic

If you’re suffering from dry eyes, you need to see an eye specialist. At the Eye and Dental Clinic, we have a team of ophthalmic experts ready to help with your eye problems. Read our latest news to learn more about eye health, contact us to learn how we can help you, or simply book your appointment today!

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