Dry eyes might put a damper on your day. The irritation, itch, and gritty feeling distract you and get so bad as the day draws on. If you suffer from seasonal or regular eye dryness, you might notice that the itchiness worsens throughout the day and peaks at night. Your dry eyes can keep you from attending a special occasion or joining your friends after work. Luckily, you do not have to deal with dry eye pain at night and miss out on special activities or a good night’s sleep any longer.
This post explores the reasons for getting dry eyes at night and the steps you can take to get rid of the problem.
What Is Eye Dryness?
Eye dryness is a condition that occurs when your eyes do not produce enough tears to keep them moist. The most notable symptom of dry eyes is a feeling of itchiness and irritation in your eyes. This happens due to a lack of proper lubrication from tears and inadequate moisture on the eyelids. Other symptoms include redness, blurred vision, stinging, and burning sensation.
What Causes Eye Dryness?
The causes of dry eyes vary widely. The common underlying factor is tears- not producing enough, poor tear quality, and rapid tear evaporation. With every blink, the underside of the eyelids spread moisture over the cornea. If there are not enough tears, your cornea gets dry and irritated.
Various health disorders can also cause eye dryness. Some of these conditions include sleep apnea, diabetes, thyroid problems, and Sarcoid disease. Some women might also experience eye dryness due to various hormonal changes associated with menopause. Pregnancy and birth control pills might also impact how your body produces tears.
Living or working in a dry environment also causes tears to evaporate, thus drying the surface of your eyes. If you work on your computer for long hours, you might also experience dry eyes. This is because you might not blink when looking at a computer screen, thus causing rapid tear evaporation.
What Causes Eye Dryness at Night?
Eye dryness at night is one of the things nobody wants to experience. If your eye dryness symptoms only persist at night, you should know what might be triggering it. You might be sleeping in a position that causes the eyes to dry.
You might also experience eye dryness at night if you use non-organic eyelids hygiene products such as eye makeup remover wipes. The products often leave behind some artificial oils and chemicals on the skin near the tear ducts. These chemicals affect your tear ducts’ ability to produce tears, thus leaving your eyes dry throughout the night. Your eyes might also dry due to the use of contact lenses. In this case, it is important to use hypoallergenic lenses and avoid wearing them while sleeping.
Spending a lot of time on your phone or computer reduces your blinking rate. It causes eye strain and eye dryness that worsens when you try to sleep. If you do not drink enough water before bedtime, you might also experience eye dryness. Therefore, it is important to keep hydrated. Further, lack of sleep also leads to eye dryness. That’s why you should practice good sleep habits. For instance, you can ensure to have a regular nighttime routine and eliminate any distractions that affect your quality of sleep.
You might also be getting dry eyes at night because you sleep with eyelids slightly open. You might wake up with your eyes inflamed and quite painful. This happens because your tears evaporate quickly while sleeping.
How to Prevent Eye Dryness at Night
If you have dry eyes at night, the first thing you should do is schedule an appointment with a professional eye doctor. The doctor will accurately diagnose your problem and recommend the best strategies to control your symptoms. Some of the best ways to prevent dry eyes at night include:
Wearing Eye Seals or Sleep Masks
If your symptoms result from lack of sleep or slightly open eyelids while sleeping, your doctor might recommend wearing eye seals or sleep masks. The masks block out light and prevent you from touching your eyes when trying to sleep. They also protect your partially-open eyes from dry outside air when sleeping.
Using Antihistamine
If allergies cause your eye dryness, you can use an antihistamine before going to bed. The product helps minimize swelling and inflammation, causing eye dryness at night. It is important to use these medicines carefully to avoid negative side effects such as dizziness and drowsiness.
Some ointments and gels might also help reduce the swelling and redness accompanying eye dryness at night. You can apply them before going to sleep to reduce overnight inflammation and prevent your eyes from sticking together while you sleep.
Avoid Cleansers at Night
If you have hypersensitive skin around your eyes, avoid using harsh chemicals and cleansers before going to sleep. You should pay attention to products labeled sensitive skin. You can use some gentle products that cannot irritate the areas around your eyes.
Try Artificial Tears
You can add lubricating teardrops into your daytime moisturizing routine. It is one of the best strategies to minimize eye dryness at night. The tears are absorbed into the eyes throughout the day and moisturize your eyes throughout the night.
When to Consult with an Eye Doctor?
Experiencing some mild symptoms of eye dryness before and during sleep is not always a cause for concern. These symptoms go away on their own. However, if the dry eyes’ symptoms are chronic or do not go away with at-home care treatments, you should consult with a professional eye doctor.
Wrapping Up
Many patients experience dry eyes during the day, but the symptoms often persist at night. Eye dryness might result from various medical conditions, environmental factors, lifestyle changes, or medication use. It is important to talk with a practitioner about severe dry eye symptoms. It helps to prevent damage to the cornea. You can schedule an appointment with USHealth Group today.