Waking up with dry, irritated eyes can put a damper on the start of your day. If you often find yourself rubbing your eyes as soon as you wake up or reaching for eye drops before your first cup of coffee, you’re not alone.
Morning dry eye is a common concern. Various factors, including your sleep environment, medications, lifestyle habits, screen time, and underlying eye conditions, can cause overnight discomfort.
At First Optometry, we understand the discomfort and frustration that dry eyes can cause, especially first thing in the morning. Fortunately, effective treatments and strategies are available to help you wake up feeling refreshed and comfortable.
What Causes Dry Eyes in the Morning?
There’s no single explanation for why your eyes might feel dry, irritated, or gritty when you wake up. Often, it’s a combination of factors related to your environment, health, or lifestyle. Here are some of the most common culprits.
1. Dry Bedroom Air
If the air in your bedroom lacks sufficient humidity, your eyes can dry out while you sleep. Heating systems in winter or air conditioning in summer can intensify this problem, causing your tear film to evaporate more quickly and leaving your eyes dry and irritated by morning.
2. Fans & Air Conditioning
While fans and air conditioners help keep your room comfortable, they can also create constant airflow that dries out your eyes during the night.
3. Allergies
Pet dander, dust mites, or seasonal pollen can trigger allergic reactions that inflame your eyes. If allergies persist year-round, you may also notice dryness or irritation most mornings.
4. Sleeping with Your Eyes Slightly Open
A condition called lagophthalmos causes some people to sleep with their eyes partially open, unknowingly exposing the eye’s surface to air throughout the night. This constant exposure can lead to significant dryness and discomfort.
5. Sleep Disorders
Conditions such as sleep apnea can impact the quality of your rest and affect your eye health. Poor oxygen supply during sleep can reduce tear production, leading to dryness or irritation.
6. Medications
Certain medications, like antihistamines, antidepressants, or even decongestants, may impair your eyes’ ability to produce enough tears.
7. Chronic Eye Conditions
Underlying conditions, such as blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids) or Sjögren’s syndrome (a condition affecting moisture production), require specialized care.
8. Lifestyle Factors
Your daily habits can also influence dry eyes in the morning. Common contributors include:
- Screen time before bed can reduce natural blinking and strain your eyes
- Overuse of contact lenses, particularly if worn overnight, can irritate eyes & absorb moisture
- Dehydration, resulting from inadequate water intake, can reduce tear production
Morning Dry Eye Treatments & Preventative Tips
The good news is that there are simple ways to reduce or even eliminate morning dry eye discomfort. Many strategies can be implemented at home, while others require professional care tailored to your needs.
- Add a Humidifier to Your Bedroom
Keep moisture levels in check by using a humidifier in your sleeping space. The added humidity can help alleviate irritation caused by low humidity and the drying effects of indoor heating or air conditioning.
- Upgrade Your Sleep Hygiene
Wearing a sleep mask can help block out distracting artificial light, keep your eyes closed, and encourage you to fall asleep faster. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule with a regular bedtime routine can significantly improve your sleep hygiene.
Stopping screen time at least an hour before bed can also give your eyes a well-needed rest.
- Use Artificial Tears
Preservative-free artificial tears can help rehydrate your eyes, offering quick relief for morning dryness.
- Warm Compresses
Applying a warm compress before bed can encourage tear production, melt oil clogged in the eyelid glands, and help soothe irritation. A warm compress can help increase blood flow and stabilize the tear film.
- Eyelid Hygiene
Gently clean your eyelids at bedtime and if also needed, first thing in the morning, to remove debris and makeup and promote a healthy eyelid microbiome. We recommend using an eyelid cleanser that can address specific issues like bacteria overgrowth or demodex mite overpopulation.
- Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help keep your body, including your eyes, hydrated.
- Give Your Eyes a Break from Contact Lenses
Swap out your contact lenses for glasses in the evening to give your eyes a chance to breathe and recover.
If you’ve noticed a connection between longer periods spent looking at screens and that dry feeling when you wake up, adding blue light filters or lenses to your eyewear can help.
Progressive Treatments for Persistent Symptoms
If morning dry eye persists despite at-home solutions, professional treatments may provide the targeted relief you need. At First Optometry, we offer treatments to address the underlying causes of chronic dry eye:
- LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation uses heat to unclog blocked oil glands in the eyelids to help stabilize your tear film and relieve dryness
- InMode radiofrequency (RF) treatment can melt coagulated oil that may be blocking the meibomian glands. It can also stimulate collagen and reduce inflammation, promoting long-term improvements in dry eye symptoms
- InMode intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy uses gentle light to help reduce inflammation, control eyelid demodex mites, melt oil gland blockages, and stabilize the tear film
- ZEST Treatment is an eyelid exfoliation therapy that removes debris, bacteria, and demodex mites around the eyes, helping to reduce irritation and support healthy tear production
- Celluma Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) uses specific wavelengths of light to gently warm the eyelids and stimulate the meibomian/oil glands to produce more tears. It helps reduce inflammation, encourages healing, and restores balance to your tear film
- Omega-3 supplements can support meibomian/oil gland health, enhancing natural tear production and stabilization
- Eye drops, from over-the-counter to medicated prescription options, can help alleviate dryness or enhance natural tear production, with options customized to treat your specific symptoms
We Can Help Make Dry Mornings a Thing of the Past
Waking up with dry eyes doesn’t have to be your reality. By addressing environmental factors, improving your sleep habits, and exploring effective treatments, you can say goodbye to morning discomfort.
Want to wake up feeling refreshed? At First Optometry, your eye health is our priority—from early morning to a lifetime of healthy vision. We’ll work with you to find relief through targeted treatments and lifestyle suggestions.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward brighter, more comfortable mornings.
