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Originally written December 1, 2016
Not all of us are morning people, but waking up every day can be uncomfortable for anyone if our eyes burn. But why does that happen? Is it a cause for alarm?
The most common cause of morning eye irritation is dry eye. Dry eye is when your eyes either don’t produce enough tears, or your tears evaporate too quickly.
In addition to burning, your eyes may be itchy, bloodshot, or swollen.
If you’re experiencing dry eyes when you wake up, it’s likely because your eyes aren’t closed tightly enough when you sleep, you aren’t producing high-quality tears, or you aren’t producing enough tears.
Dry eye treatments include artificial tears, prescription dry eye medication, or even minor in-office procedures that temporarily or permanently close tear drainage channels to maintain more moisture on the surface of the eyes.
Morning eye irritation can also be caused by allergies, pink eye, blepharitis, or foreign objects in the eye. Individuals who wear contacts may also experience eye irritation if they do not remove them before sleeping.
The best thing to do is make an appointment with an eye doctor and determine if the cause of your discomfort is dry eyes or something else. From there, your doctor can come up with a treatment plan. Meanwhile, several home remedies can offer you relief. Warm compresses can unclog oil-producing glands, while gently washing your eyes can help with inflammation. If you wear contact lenses, make sure they are of a high quality that won’t irritate your eyes. If your eye irritation might be allergy-related, do what you can to avoid those allergens. Wear wraparound sunglasses to protect your eyes from the wind and sun during the day, as they can both dry out your eyes. Drink plenty of water and maintain a healthy diet, as they can reduce dry eye and stimulate tear production.
If you are concerned about your eyes hurting in the morning, see a CEENTA eye doctor. They will diagnose you and come up with a treatment plan that will help you start your day on the right foot.
This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor. To make an appointment with a CEENTA eye doctor, you may schedule an appointment online or through myCEENTAchart.
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