Do your eyes feel uncomfortable in the morning, like burning, itchy, gritty, or blurry? If so, you may wonder why I have dry eyes in the morning. And how can I tell if I need medical care?
Other everyday things that can make eyes feel dry and irritated are wind, cold weather, and air conditioning. Smoking can also increase your risk of developing dry eyes.
Fortunately, there are several strategies you can use to relieve dry eye symptoms temporarily.
For more information, read on to learn why your eyes may feel dry in the morning and some helpful tips and cures to ease the discomfort.
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Reduced Tear Production During Sleep
Waking up with dry eye is often caused by reduced tear production during sleep. Our eyes produce fewer tears while we’re asleep than during our waking hours. The tears that are made evaporate more quickly when we are asleep.
This reduces eye moisture levels, making them more vulnerable to exposure to dry air or dust particles. This can become trapped and agitate the eye surface.
The oil that lubricates our eyes is also reduced while we sleep. This lowers the eye’s natural protection against dryness. Find our office here to learn more remedies for this issue and reduce the discomfort of dry eyes in the morning.
Incomplete Eyelid Closure
Incomplete eyelid closure is one of the leading causes of dry eyes in the morning. When you sleep, your eyelids do not close all the way, allowing air and environmental elements to enter and enter the eye surface.
Your eyes instinctively recognize the presence of foreign matter, and the production of tears may not be sufficient to flush it out. As a result, you can wake up with itchy, dry eyes. Also, during sleep, the eyelids cannot provide the natural oil to the tear film in the looks necessary to prevent dry eyes.
Over time, this can cause inflammation, discomfort, and even blurred vision due to decreased tear production. Therefore, incomplete eyelid closure is an important trigger to address when managing morning dry eyes.
Environmental Factors
Having dry eyes in the morning is a fairly common complaint. Environmental factors can play a role in why people experience this. Waking up in a dry room can cause eyes to become dry and irritated.
Additionally, homes can be filled with allergens such as dust and pet dander that can cause eyes to be dry and irritated. Exposure to high winds can also lead to dry eyes, as the wind can blow away the tears while leaving the eyes dry and exposed to the elements.
Dry air from air conditioning and heaters can also dry the eyes, as can spending time in an environment with excessive smoke. Taking preventative measures, such as using moisturizing drops at nighttime, can help combat the symptoms brought about by environmental factors.
The Common Causes of Dry Eyes in the Morning
Dry eyes in the morning can be annoying and frustrating. However, dry eye syndrome can be managed with treatments and preventive measures such as avoiding prolonged use of electronics, and artificial tears, and keeping your eyes hydrated.
If you’re still struggling with dry eyes, it may be wise to speak with an eye doctor.
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