Why do people wake up with dry eye in the morning, and what can be done to alleviate this issue?
Dry eye in the morning typically results from inadequate tear production or accelerated tear film evaporation. Why does this occur more frequently during the night?
Nocturnal lagophthalmos, the inability to fully close the eyelids during sleep, often leads to dry eye in the morning. It is associated with weakness in the seventh cranial nerve due to several potential causes:
Incomplete eyelid closure exposes the eyes to air, disrupting the tear film's continuity, leading to dry eyes upon waking up.
A 2020 study revealed nocturnal lagophthalmos not only instigates dry eye in the morning but also deteriorates sleep quality. It was found that overstimulation of Muller's muscle, responsible for keeping the eye open, can trigger this condition.
Several groups are more susceptible to experiencing nocturnal lagophthalmos, and thus, dry eye in the morning:
Addressing dry eye in the morning involves effective strategies such as:
Relaxing activities, like the warm bath, can increase your parasympathetic activity, which regulates the “rest and digest” function and decreases sympathetic activity prior to falling asleep. This may also reduce the stimulation of the Muller’s muscle.
Taping the eyelids closed physically keeps your eyes covered, which should help keep them better lubricated.
Artificial tears can also be a viable option to manage symptoms of dry eye in the morning.
While nocturnal lagophthalmos is a common cause, there are several other factors that can lead to dry eye in the morning:
Remember, managing these factors can help reduce the incidence of dry eye in the morning.
If you experience dry eye upon waking up, it is likely caused by nocturnal lagophthalmos. In addition to the suggestions listed above, a doctor can provide you with additional guidance on what to do to treat and resolve this issue. If you’d like to schedule an appointment for a consultation at American Family Vision Clinic, you can contact us at (360) 491-2121. Patients with dry eyes visit our clinic from all over Washington, and we are proud to be a leading provider of dry eye care for patients from Olympia, Lakewood, Tacoma, and Lacey.
Such a nice optician. My grandson is only 4 and needs glasses. We were so sad, but he explained the issues, and we will follow up as he suggested.
I had such a good experience with the clinic. Very friendly staff and doctor, did not have to wait for long to be called, and was treated respectfully. Thanks, American Family.
Dr. Zurcher has gone above and beyond what any other eye doctor has ever done to figure out what is going on with my eyes. Very happy with American Family Vision.
Family Vision Clinic changed our lives! My daughter was frequently car sick, and she was getting headaches every day, often painful enough that they brought her to tears. We saw a string of doctors and therapists, but we made no progress. Finally, we found Dr. Levi Zurcher and his eye therapist Rain. After ten weeks of eye therapy my daughter no longer gets headaches, and she no longer gets car sick. Daily tears are a thing of the past. I really can’t say enough about this clinic. It was fascinating to watch Dr. Zurcher work. For the first time, someone who knew what they were doing was intently studying my daughter, really trying to figure out all of her eye issues, and his therapist Rain is one of the most patient and lovely people that I’ve ever had the good fortune to meet. We’re finished with eye therapy—yay!—and I have switched to American Family Vision Clinic for all of my family’s other eye health needs.
Very professional, yet kind and helpful. They do what they can to make the appointment comfortable. I was running a bit late, I made sure ti call. They were able to switch me with a patient who was already there, they treated me with respect, and helped my son have confidence by getting him the eye care he needed that day. Thank you so much! Would recommend to anyone. It's a blessing that they care enough to work with people who have all different types of insurance from work to state coverage.
The staff is friendly. The Doc is very knowledgeable. The office is family friendly and everyone is so patient with the little ones.
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