Why are my eyes dry when I wake up

Why are my eyes dry when I wake up

If you’re wondering why your eyes are dry, you’re in the right place. Many different environmental, medical and lifestyle factors can cause dry eyes, and they’re not always easy to identify.

Many people experience dry eyes when they wake up in the morning, but is that normal and what can you do about it?

Common causes of dry eyes

Dry eyes are a common condition, particularly in older age and in women, but there are many possible causes for both short-term experiences of dry eyes and chronic dry eyes.

Pinpointing the precise cause of your dry eyes can be challenging, but you should seek treatment for your dry eyes if they last for more than a few days, as you could be damaging your eyes while you find the cause.

Common environmental causes for dry eyes include:

• Being in a smoky room.
• Being in an air-conditioned room.
• Being on an aeroplane.
• Cycling without glasses.
• Being outside in cold, dry, windy conditions.
• Looking at a computer screen for extended periods.
• Looking at a computer screen at close range.

If an environmental factor triggers your dry eyes, changing your surroundings may bring relief. However, this is more difficult if you work from a computer or on an aeroplane, so you should see an eye specialist about how you can appropriately treat your symptoms.

Some conditions cause dry eyes as a symptom, so if you have a chronic condition and dry eyes, it’s possible that the two are related, and you should speak to your GP about how to relieve your symptoms.

Common conditions that cause dry eyes include:

• Vitamin A deficiency.
• Dry eye syndrome.
• Keratitis.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• A chalazion is blocking your tear duct.
• Thyroid disorders.
• Lupus.

A chalazion is a small lump that can block your tear duct and prevent the production or removal of tears, causing your eyes to dry. You can have this removed by a specialist, who will cure your dry eyes.

Symptoms of dry eyes

Not everyone with dry eyes will experience the same symptoms.

Common symptoms of dry eyes include:

• A stinging, burning or itchy feeling in your eyes.
• Eye redness.
• Irritation, like there’s something in your eyes.
• Stringy mucus in your eyes.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Tired eyes.
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses.
• Watery eyes.
• Blurred vision.

Some people who have dry eyes also experience headaches, but it’s not a common symptom and more likely that both symptoms are caused by another condition or a hormonal change rather than dry eyes causing the headaches or vice versa.

Why are my eyes dry when I wake up?

There are several possible reasons that your eyes may feel dry when you wake up, and they don’t necessarily mean you have a chronic condition or dry eye syndrome.

Many people will have dry eyes temporarily when they first wake up, as we don’t blink as often while we sleep as we do when we’re awake, so our eyes are naturally less lubricated. So if your dry eye symptoms dissipate as you wake up, there’s nothing to worry about.

However, if your eyes are painfully dry each morning, there may be another cause that would be important to identify to help treat your dry eyes, such as:

• Poor air quality in your bedroom.
• Allergies to your bedding.
• Medication side effects.
• Hormonal changes.
• Frequent contact lens use.
• An eye infection.

Causes and treatments for dry eyes in the morning

Many people experience dry eye symptoms in winter as they use their heating more frequently, drying the air in the house and making their eyes feel dry and itchy. This can also be common in summer for people who use air-conditioning. If either is the case for you, you can put a humidifier in your room to help prevent your symptoms.

Allergies and anti-allergy medication can both cause dry eyes, so if you’ve got new goose feather pillows, for example, and your eyes feel dry and itchy each morning, you may have an allergy to your bedding and should opt for allergy-free alternatives. Likewise, if you have recently started taking a new medication and have developed dry eyes, you should visit your GP to discuss the options of alternative medicines.

Dry eyes can be caused by:

• Antihistamines.
• Decongestants.
• Antidepressants.
• Birth control.

Women are more likely to experience dry eyes than men, as they have significant hormonal changes throughout their lives. Whether it’s menstruating, taking birth control, being pregnant or going through the menopause, dry eyes are common symptoms, so if you get dry eyes cyclically or have recently become pregnant or reached the menopause, a doctor can help advise you on how to relieve your symptoms.

If you regularly use contact lenses, it’s important to follow eye hygiene best practices to avoid having dry eyes or developing eye infections. Try to wear glasses from time to time and don’t sleep in your contact lenses to relieve symptoms.

Looking after your eyes is crucial to your overall quality of life, as eye infections can be painful and disturbing. Blepharitis and conjunctivitis can cause dry eyes as a result of bacterial growth in your eye, so see your GP for the appropriate eye drops to clear any symptoms of eye infections, as they can be dangerous if left untreated.

Are dry eyes dangerous?

Dry eyes alone are highly unlikely to cause any serious eye health problems, such as blindness or vitreous detachment; however likely each becomes greater as we get older. However, having chronic dry eyes will greatly impact your quality of life as reading, watching television and going out become more difficult and less enjoyable.

What’s more, if dry eyes are left untreated, you’re more susceptible to developing eye infections. Eye infections can easily be treated, but if they are not treated, they can cause more serious eye health problems.

How can you improve your eye health?

Maintaining good eye health is crucial to maintaining a good quality of life as we get older, but how do you look after your eyes?

Here are some tips to help improve and maintain your eye health:

• Have regular eye exams with a specialist to identify any issues early on.
• Eat a balanced diet with plenty of vitamins A, C and E, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids.
• Stay hydrated, ensuring you drink at least 1.5 – 2 litres of water every day.
• Protect your eyes from cold winds and UV rays with the appropriate glasses.
• Follow the 20-20-20 rule when using a computer, television or phone screen regularly.
• Ensure your workspace, or home, is properly lit to avoid straining your eyes.
• Stop smoking as it can increase your risk of developing eye conditions.
• Stay on top of your other health problems, especially thyroid disorder, diabetes and hypertension.
• Follow proper care instructions for your contact lenses.

If you have dry eyes, despite following the necessary care for your eyes to stay healthy, they could be a result of ageing, going through a hormonal change or another underlying condition. You should see an eye specialist or your GP to determine the cause of your dry eyes and seek appropriate treatment.

Can you treat dry eyes?

Identifying and addressing the root cause of dry eyes can be a time-consuming process, during which your dry eyes may progressively worsen, making them more prone to infections, so you should seek treatment for dry eyes if symptoms have not improved in a few days.

While you cannot permanently cure dry eyes, you can effectively treat the symptoms with eye drops, known as artificial tears. Artificial tears come in various formats made by lots of different brands and can easily be bought over the counter in most pharmacies. However, different eye drops work in different ways, as dry eyes can be caused by a lack of tear production, a lack of quality tear production and excessive draining or evaporation of tears, so each eye drop will treat dry eyes differently.

To know which is best for you, visit an eye specialist, so the root cause of your dry eyes can be identified, and you can get your quality of life back.

Do you have dry eyes? Visit the Eye and Dental Clinic today

If you have symptoms of dry eyes and want to find the cause or the best treatment, book an appointment at the Eye and Dental Clinic today.

Back to Blog