You know in romcoms where the lead wakes up refreshed, happy, and with their eyes bright? That doesn’t happen to me. When I wake up, my eyes protest. They hurt!
But why do my eyes hurt when I wake up? Let’s figure out what’s going on here!
What Does It Feel Like to Wake Up With Hurting Eyes?
The feeling of waking up with hurting eyes can be jarring. Your first impulse is to close your eyes again. In my case, I tumble toward the bathroom sink to douse my eyes with cold water. This doesn’t really work. Sometimes, it makes my eyes feel worse!
The intensity varies. Sometimes, it’s a dull ache. Other times, it’s sharp, as if there are needles in my eyes. My eyes burn, and sometimes they water. Often, though, they’re dry.
The Usual Suspects
So, why are your eyes hurting when you wake up? There are several possible culprits. Let’s line them up and see which one fits your situation the best!
Suspect 1: Dry Eye Syndrome
This is perhaps one of the most taken-for-granted eye conditions. An estimated 16 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with Dry Eye Syndrome. Another 6 million are said to suffer from dry eyes yet remain undiagnosed.
Dry eye is a condition where your eyes fail to produce enough tears. It also happens because your tears evaporate or dry up fast. When you sleep, your eyes naturally produce fewer tears. Because of this, irritants build up, and you wake up with a dry and gritty sensation in your eyes. The dryness can be worse if you’re in a low-humidity or air-conditioned environment.
If you often wake up with dry eyes, it’s a good idea to keep a bottle of artificial tears by your bed. You can buy them over the counter at most pharmacies. Or, you can buy them online.
Here are some artificial tears you can try:
Oasis TEARS® PLUS Preservative-Free Lubricant Eye Drops
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Refresh Optive Mega-3 Enhanced with Flaxseed Oil Lubricant Eye Drops
Refresh Optive Mega-3 Enhanced with Flaxseed Oil Lubricant Eye Drops is “a game-changer,” according to Megan R. She adds:
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Suspect 2: Blepharitis
The cause of your morning eye discomfort could be inflamed eyelids or blepharitis. If you look in the mirror and see swollen eyelids, then you need to find out the root cause. Is it a bacterial or fungal infection? Or maybe it’s just allergies or a blockage of the eyelids’ oil glands?
Whatever it is, it comes with the misfortune of uncomfortable mornings. The pain is especially bad when you wake up. Your eyes swell and turn red. Most times, you wake up with crusty discharges that have accumulated overnight.
Your eye doctor will prescribe the right medication once they diagnose the cause. In the meantime, you can minimize the intensity of your symptoms by practicing good eye hygiene, applying warm compresses, and using artificial tears.
Suspect 3: Corneal Abrasions
Your morning eye pain might be because of scratches on your cornea (corneal abrasions). Minor abrasions can come from irritation from contact lenses or stray eyelashes. It could even come from roughly rubbing your eyes.
You might not feel discomfort while sleeping. However, once you wake up, the mere act of opening your eyes creates an uncomfortable friction. Add the sudden exposure to light, and the feeling can get really intense. You might even experience blurred vision because of this.
If you suspect corneal abrasions, see your doctor right away.
Suspect 4: Allergies
Your morning eye pain might be caused by allergic conjunctivitis, which can be triggered by exposure to dust, pollen, and other allergens. Other symptoms to watch out for include redness, crusting, swollen eyelids, and pus-like discharges. It’s up to your eye doctor to diagnose you with this allergy, so get checked out right away. Antihistamines are typically prescribed for this.
Suspect 5: Digital Eye Strain
Too much time in front of digital screens not only messes with your sleep pattern. It also causes eye strain, which can extend till the next morning. Your eyes feel tired; your eye muscles are strained.
While sleep offers a good break for your eyes, it is sometimes not enough. You still wake up with a dull ache and tiredness.
To prevent this, limit your digital screen exposure, especially close to bedtime. Practice the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a digital screen break by focusing 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Suspect 6: Medications and Underlying Conditions
Sometimes, your morning eye pain is from dry eyes caused by medications and underlying conditions. Some of the meds that could cause this are some diuretics and antihistamines. Underlying conditions that could potentially lead to eye pain include Sjögren’s syndrome and thyroid disorders.
If you are dealing with a medical condition and you suddenly feel morning eye discomfort, talk to your doctor about it.
Suspect 7: Sleeping With Contact Lenses
Some contact lenses are FDA-approved for extended wear. This means that you can safely sleep with them in. Each person is different, though, and reacts to sleeping with foreign objects in their eyes in a variety of ways. Yes, this is a convenience you pay extra for. However, it’s always best to consult your doctor first if you’re thinking about using extended wear contacts that you can sleep in.
You might also mistakenly fall asleep with your non-extended-wear contacts in. This can be very uncomfortable! Your contacts can dry out as you sleep, and your eyes might hurt when you wake up. Try to build a bedtime ritual around taking off, cleaning, and soaking your lenses to prevent this mistake.
The Roundup
So, knowing the suspects, you can now narrow it down to a main culprit. Is it dry eyes, your contacts, or your meds? Gather your evidence and then talk to your eye doctor about it.
It’s also a good idea to make simple changes in your sleeping routine to help ease the pain you feel when waking up. It could be as simple as adding hours to your sleep or using a humidifier in your bedroom. Do this as you wait for your doctor’s appointment.
TL;DR Summary
- Eyes hurt when you wake up in the morning? Here’s a list of the usual suspects.
- Suspect 1: Dry eyes. To get relief, reach for artificial tears.
- Suspect 2: Blepharitis or inflammation of the eyelids. Address the cause of your inflammation to stop experiencing morning eye pain.
- Suspect 3: Corneal abrasions. The root of minor corneal abrasion can be something as simple as vigorously rubbing your eyes or being irritated by your contacts. Get checked out to prevent this from getting worse.
- Suspect 4: Allergies. See your doctor to get a prescription to address the allergies.
- Suspect 5: Digital eye strain. Take frequent screen breaks.
- Suspect 6: Medication and underlying conditions. Ask your doctor about your morning eye discomfort if you’re dealing with a medical condition.
- Suspect 7: Sleeping with your contacts. Talk to your eye doctor about using extended wear first.
