5 Reasons You’re Waking Up With Dry Eyes and What to Do About It

Have you ever woken up after a good night’s rest only to find that your eyes feel gritty? Or maybe your eyes feel so dry that you have to blink a few times just to see clearly? Then, you may have woken up with dry eyes.

Irritating, painful eyes don’t have to ruin your wake-up routine. Here’s how you can pinpoint what’s causing your dry eyes and how to keep your eyes comfortable as you sleep. 

What are some reasons people develop dry eyes while sleeping? 

There are several reasons you could be waking up with dry eyes. Figuring out what’s causing your dry eyes is the first step in finding long-lasting relief. A visit to the eye doctor can help you solve the mystery quickly and effectively. But before you go, think about these potential causes:

1. Damaged tear film

Your eye is covered by a film of tears all the time. These tears lubricate and protect your eyes. When the tear film gets damaged, people develop a condition called dry eye syndrome. Dry eye can happen if your tear (lacrimal) gland doesn’t make enough tears. It can also happen if your tears don’t contain enough oil, which causes them to evaporate too fast. 

People are more likely to develop damaged tear films as they get older. Hormone changes from menopause can also trigger dry eye. Certain autoimmune conditions can trigger it, too. 

2. Clogged oil glands

The oil ducts along your eyelid make the oily part of your tear film. Without this oil, tears evaporate too fast and cause dry eyes. If your oil glands are clogged or inflamed, they can’t release oil into your tears. This leads to dry eyes. 

3. Open eyelids

When you sleep, your eyelids close and hold your tear film in place. This keeps your eyes from drying out and substitutes for the blinking you normally do during the day. But some people sleep with their eyes partially open. This is called nocturnal lagophthalmos and it can make you wake up with dry eyes. 

People who’ve had surgery on their face or jaw, or had a stroke might not close their eyelids completely at night. People with Grave’s disease, Bell’s palsy, or Ramsay Hunt syndrome have trouble closing their eyelids fully, too.

4. Medications

Some medications can affect your tears and lead to dry eyes. The list is quite long and includes common medications like:

• Blood pressure medications

• Allergy medications

• Antidepressants

• Diuretics (water pills)

• Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen

5. Dust and dander

Dr. Alan Solinsky, an ophthalmologist at Hartford Hospital Eye Surgery Center, urges people to keep their environment in mind. “If your dry eye is suddenly new, determine if there is a new pet or new pillow that might be causing it,” he says. 

Common indoor allergens like dust and dander can trigger dry eyes even if you don’t have a history of allergies. 

Low humidity, whether from air conditioning or heating, might also cause dry eyes. So can running a fan in your room.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Can medications cause dry eye? Check our list of medications that can affect your eyes to see if yours is on the list.

• Having blurry vision in the morning? Dry eye could be to blame. Here’s how dry eye can impact your vision. 

• Searching for the best ways to manage dry eye? Take a look at how others keep their eyes comfortable.

What can you do to stop your eyes from drying out overnight?

There might be one or many reasons you’re waking up with dry eyes. But there are some steps you can take to keep your eyes moist overnight.

1. Change your sleep environment

No matter what’s causing your dry eyes, changing your sleep environment should be your first action item. Focus on minimizing allergens like dust and dander. Make sure to wash sheets, pillows and comforters weekly in hot water. This will lower the amount of dust and mites. You can also consider mattress or pillow covers.

Prolonged screen time can lead to dry eye syndrome, so give your eyes a break from screens throughout the day. It’s also a good idea to avoid smoking since smoke is another dry eye trigger.

If you use a fan, move it away from the head of your bed. In cold months, run a humidifier especially if you have forced hot air heat.

2. Use an eye ointment

Use a lubricating eye ointment before going to bed at night. These ointments are available over the counter. They’re thick so they stay in place better overnight than artificial tears. Since they‘re thick, they’ll blur your vision so it’s best to put it on right before sleep. 

Ointments can also take time to naturally wash out when you wake up. If this gets in the way of your morning routine, you can try artificial tears in a gel form instead. 

Eye ointments take over the hard work of keeping your eye moist overnight. They’re especially helpful if your tear film is damaged.

3. Try a lid scrub or warm compress

An eyelid scrub or warm compress before bedtime encourages your eyelid’s oil glands to open. That extra oil can strengthen your natural tear film overnight. 

You can buy a reusable warm pack that’s made for use over the eyes or make your own warm pack with a sock and dry white rice. Eyelid scrubs are available from product lines like OcuSoft or TheraTears. You can also use a tear-free shampoo or face wash. 

4. Talk with your healthcare provider about your medications

If you’re taking any medications, talk with your healthcare provider about whether they could be causing your dry eyes. Your provider may be able to switch you to a medication that doesn’t affect your tears. But keep in mind that you shouldn’t stop or change your medication without talking with a healthcare professional first.

5. See an eye doctor

If you don’t know why you’re waking up with dry eyes, see an eye doctor. You should also see an eye doctor if treatments aren’t making your symptoms better. There are prescription options that can relieve dry eyes. Some of these options are specifically for nighttime use like moisture goggles and therapeutic contact lenses. 

If you’re waking up with dry eyes because your eyelids don’t close all the way, don’t wait to see an eye doctor. There are options that can help keep your eyelids closed overnight. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Ronald W. Dworkin, MD, PhD

Ronald W. Dworkin, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist who has been practicing anesthesiology in a community hospital for 30 years. He has taught in the honors program at George Washington University for over 10 years and works as a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Reviewed by:

Nishika Reddy, MD

Nishika Reddy, MD, is an attending physician at the University of Utah. She provides comprehensive and cornea medical care at the Moran Eye Center and serves as clinical assistant professor.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts