


There might be one or many reasons you’re waking up with dry eyes. What can you do to stop your eyes from drying out overnight? Low humidity, whether from air conditioning or heating, might also cause dry eyes. “If your dry eye is suddenly new, determine if there is a new pet or new pillow that might be causing it,” he says.Ĭommon indoor allergens like dust and dander can trigger dry eyes even if you don’t have a history of allergies. Alan Solinsky, an ophthalmologist at Hartford Hospital Eye Surgery Center, urges people to keep their environment in mind. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofenĭr. The list is quite long and includes common medications like: Some medications can affect your tears and lead to dry eyes. People with Grave’s disease, Bell’s palsy, or Ramsay Hunt syndrome have trouble closing their eyelids fully, too. People who’ve had surgery on their face or jaw, or had a stroke might not close their eyelids completely at night. This is called nocturnal lagophthalmos and it can make you wake up with dry eyes. But some people sleep with their eyes partially open. This keeps your eyes from drying out and substitutes for the blinking you normally do during the day. When you sleep, your eyelids close and hold your tear film in place. If your oil glands are clogged or inflamed, they can’t release oil into your tears. Without this oil, tears evaporate too fast and cause dry eyes. The oil ducts along your eyelid make the oily part of your tear film. Certain autoimmune conditions can trigger it, too.

Hormone changes from menopause can also trigger dry eye. People are more likely to develop damaged tear films as they get older. It can also happen if your tears don’t contain enough oil, which causes them to evaporate too fast. Dry eye can happen if your tear (lacrimal) gland doesn’t make enough tears. When the tear film gets damaged, people develop a condition called dry eye syndrome. These tears lubricate and protect your eyes. Your eye is covered by a film of tears all the time. But before you go, think about these potential causes: 1. A visit to the eye doctor can help you solve the mystery quickly and effectively. Figuring out what’s causing your dry eyes is the first step in finding long-lasting relief. There are several reasons you could be waking up with dry eyes. 1–4 of 6 What are some reasons people develop dry eyes while sleeping?
