Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDry Eye SyndromeNocturnal LagophthalmosBlepharitisFloppy Eyelid SyndromeEnvironmentMedicationsAgeDiagnosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Dry Eye Syndrome
Nocturnal Lagophthalmos
Blepharitis
Floppy Eyelid Syndrome
Environment
Medications
Age
Diagnosis
Many people visit the eye doctor with a common complaint: “I feel there’s sand in my eyes when I wake up in the morning.” Along with this sensation, eyes may hurt, itch, burn, or feel gritty—as if a small particle is stuck in the eye. Some people with these complaints may also have difficulty opening their eyes or can be sensitive to light.
By the time you head to your doctor, you may already have purchased several types of over-the-counter eye drops. These drops may provide some short-term relief or they may do nothing more than sting or burn a little.
If your eyes feel dry and gritty, you should see a doctor to find out if the cause could be a medical condition. This article will explain the potential causes of gritty eyes, plus some remedies.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Dry eye syndrome is one of the most common causes of a gritty feeling in the eyes.Dry eye syndrome often causes a sandy, gritty sensation in the morning that usually gets worse throughout the day.
Dry eyes can trigger some irritating symptoms.
Among them:
Artificial tears, sold over the counter, can be a great start to treating dry eyes. Ask your healthcare professional or eye doctor to make a recommendation.
Your doctor may recommend that you use an eye gel or ointment.
An Overview of Dry Eye Syndrome
Your healthcare provider may ask you if anyone has ever told you that yousleep with your eyes open.
It may sound impossible, but a condition called nocturnallagophthalmoscauses people to sleep with their eyes partially open.
Your eyes can dry out considerably when you don’t blink. Then an inflammation, calledkeratitis, can develop. This can cause light sensitivity and a strong sandy, gritty sensation in your eyes upon awakening in the morning.
Lagophthalmos has several causes:
Eye drops may not be up to the task of treating nocturnal lagophthalmos. Thicker eye ointments used at bedtime may be a better choice to reduce symptoms and speed healing. If your doctor recommends that you use thicker eye drops, you should know that these can temporarily blur vision when you put them in.
Another choice can be to use surgical tape to keep your eyes closed while you are sleeping.
The bacteria can grow because of:
Blepharitis tends to cause eye redness and inflammation. People with blepharitis may wake up in the morning with crusty eyelids. Sometimes, dried mucus can fall into the eye,causing irritationor a sandy, gritty sensation.
Blepharitis and Flaky Eyelids
Treatment for FES often includes artificial tears to reduce irritation and an antibiotic if signs of infection are present. Using tape or an eye shield to keep the eyelids closed while sleeping may help keep the eyes from becoming dry.
Your eyes could feel gritty from air pollution if you live or work near a factory.
Your healthcare professional or eye doctor should be able to help you determine if environmental factors are contributing to or causing your dry and gritty eyes.
Moisture Is ImportantYou’re correct if you assume that “eye drops” and “artificial tears” are similar. Many people use the terms interchangeably. The main difference? The active ingredient in artificial tears is similar to human tears.
Moisture Is Important
You’re correct if you assume that “eye drops” and “artificial tears” are similar. Many people use the terms interchangeably. The main difference? The active ingredient in artificial tears is similar to human tears.
Ask your healthcare provider or eye doctor to review your current medications to determine if any are responsible for your symptoms.
What Can Cause a Rash Around the Eyes?
It can be inevitable: Many people develop a sense of grittiness in their eyes as they age. Tear production tends to decrease and become less efficient as people grow older.
And a decrease in skin elasticity can prevent eyes from fully closing.
Menopausal women tend to experience dry eyes along with other symptoms due to changing hormones.
It can be annoying to feel as though something is in your eye. If you wake up more than once with a sandy, gritty feeling in your eyes, see your healthcare professional or eye doctor.
Be prepared to answer the following questions:
Your doctor may examine your eyes under aslit lampto look for signs of dryness or other signs of inflammation, such as keratitis.
They may instill a special dye or stain to see where on your eye the dryness or inflammation is occurring. The location can provide clues as to the underlying cause of the symptoms and help guide the right treatment.
Summary
Diagnosing the cause of dry, gritty eyes is important. You shouldn’t feel like you have to tolerate this problem—there are solutions. Your doctor may consider dry eye syndrome, nocturnal lagophthalmos, blepharitis, and floppy eyelid syndrome. Air quality, some medications, and the aging process can cause eyes to feel dry, too.
The 7 Best Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Marshall LL, Roach JM.Treatment of dry eye disease.Consult Pharm. 2016;31(2):96-106. doi:10.4140/TCP.n.2016.96Holly FJ, Lemp MA.Tear physiology and dry eyes.Surv Ophthalmol. 1977;22(2):69-87. doi:10.1016/0039-6257(77)90087-XErvin AM, Law A, Pucker AD.Punctal occulsion for dry eye syndrome: summary of a Cochrane systematic review.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2017;6:CD006775. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006775.pub3Cleveland Clinic.Why do some people sleep with their eyes open?Pereira MV, Glória AL.Lagophthalmos.Semin Ophthalmol. 2010;25(3):72-8. doi:10.3109/08820538.2010.488578Bernardes TF, Bonfioli AA.Blepharitis.Semin Ophthalmol. 2010;25(3):79-83. doi:10.3109/08820538.2010.488562Woodlands Eye Associates.How sleep apnea affects the eyes.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Floppy eyelid syndrome.University of Iowa Eye Care.Artificial tears: a primer.Guillon M, Maïssa C.Tear film evaporation–effect of age and gender.Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2010;33(4):171-5. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2010.03.002
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Marshall LL, Roach JM.Treatment of dry eye disease.Consult Pharm. 2016;31(2):96-106. doi:10.4140/TCP.n.2016.96Holly FJ, Lemp MA.Tear physiology and dry eyes.Surv Ophthalmol. 1977;22(2):69-87. doi:10.1016/0039-6257(77)90087-XErvin AM, Law A, Pucker AD.Punctal occulsion for dry eye syndrome: summary of a Cochrane systematic review.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2017;6:CD006775. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006775.pub3Cleveland Clinic.Why do some people sleep with their eyes open?Pereira MV, Glória AL.Lagophthalmos.Semin Ophthalmol. 2010;25(3):72-8. doi:10.3109/08820538.2010.488578Bernardes TF, Bonfioli AA.Blepharitis.Semin Ophthalmol. 2010;25(3):79-83. doi:10.3109/08820538.2010.488562Woodlands Eye Associates.How sleep apnea affects the eyes.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Floppy eyelid syndrome.University of Iowa Eye Care.Artificial tears: a primer.Guillon M, Maïssa C.Tear film evaporation–effect of age and gender.Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2010;33(4):171-5. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2010.03.002
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Marshall LL, Roach JM.Treatment of dry eye disease.Consult Pharm. 2016;31(2):96-106. doi:10.4140/TCP.n.2016.96Holly FJ, Lemp MA.Tear physiology and dry eyes.Surv Ophthalmol. 1977;22(2):69-87. doi:10.1016/0039-6257(77)90087-XErvin AM, Law A, Pucker AD.Punctal occulsion for dry eye syndrome: summary of a Cochrane systematic review.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2017;6:CD006775. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006775.pub3Cleveland Clinic.Why do some people sleep with their eyes open?Pereira MV, Glória AL.Lagophthalmos.Semin Ophthalmol. 2010;25(3):72-8. doi:10.3109/08820538.2010.488578Bernardes TF, Bonfioli AA.Blepharitis.Semin Ophthalmol. 2010;25(3):79-83. doi:10.3109/08820538.2010.488562Woodlands Eye Associates.How sleep apnea affects the eyes.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Floppy eyelid syndrome.University of Iowa Eye Care.Artificial tears: a primer.Guillon M, Maïssa C.Tear film evaporation–effect of age and gender.Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2010;33(4):171-5. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2010.03.002
Marshall LL, Roach JM.Treatment of dry eye disease.Consult Pharm. 2016;31(2):96-106. doi:10.4140/TCP.n.2016.96
Holly FJ, Lemp MA.Tear physiology and dry eyes.Surv Ophthalmol. 1977;22(2):69-87. doi:10.1016/0039-6257(77)90087-X
Ervin AM, Law A, Pucker AD.Punctal occulsion for dry eye syndrome: summary of a Cochrane systematic review.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2017;6:CD006775. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006775.pub3
Cleveland Clinic.Why do some people sleep with their eyes open?
Pereira MV, Glória AL.Lagophthalmos.Semin Ophthalmol. 2010;25(3):72-8. doi:10.3109/08820538.2010.488578
Bernardes TF, Bonfioli AA.Blepharitis.Semin Ophthalmol. 2010;25(3):79-83. doi:10.3109/08820538.2010.488562
Woodlands Eye Associates.How sleep apnea affects the eyes.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Floppy eyelid syndrome.
University of Iowa Eye Care.Artificial tears: a primer.
Guillon M, Maïssa C.Tear film evaporation–effect of age and gender.Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2010;33(4):171-5. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2010.03.002
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