Why do my eyes hurt in the morning after sleep?

Eyes are one of the most sensitive and vital human organs .

Therefore, morning discomfort in one of them can not only ruin your mood and reduce your performance during the day.

This symptom may also indicate serious problems (inflammation, viral infection, allergic reaction, etc.) that require immediate attention.

To relieve pain, various medications (drops, ointments) and folk remedies are used.

It is worth noting! If pain in the eyes after sleep persists for a long period of time and no medications work, you should consult a specialist as soon as possible and find out the cause of the discomfort.

Main symptoms

If it hurts to open your eyes after sleep or in the morning, then the following characteristic symptoms can be identified :

Cutting and burning sensation (as if sand had been poured into the eyes).
Severe itching (may recur periodically).
Redness and photophobia.
Intense lacrimation.
Purulent discharge (in the morning there may be sticky eyelids due to pus accumulated on the eyelashes).
Cloudiness.
Swelling (upper or lower eyelid).
Excessive dryness in the eye.
Sensation of a foreign object (as if a speck or eyelash had gotten into it).
Pain when blinking.

Sometimes , in addition to the symptoms listed above, vision may deteriorate or become blurry.

Variant of the norm

Do you often feel sleepy during the day? Do you often nod off while sitting at a lecture or during a boring meeting? Don't rush to panic! Most likely, your sleepiness is physiological in nature and is caused by a lack of sleep at night or increased intellectual, emotional or physical stress.

The desire to “take a nap” during the day is quite acceptable even when moving to a different time zone, when you have a cold, or after a hearty lunch. Daytime sleepiness is a frequent companion to pregnancy, which is associated with intense hormonal changes and the preparation of the female body for the upcoming birth.

Finally, the desire to sleep can be caused by taking certain medications: not only tranquilizers, antidepressants and antipsychotics, but also antihistamines, which can cause similar symptoms.

Causes of discomfort

Note! The causes of eye pain after waking up may be the following factors:

Poor personal eye hygiene (makeup not washed off at night, lack of water procedures before bed). As a result, dust accumulated on the eyelids and eyelashes can penetrate directly into the mucous membrane, causing pain.
Fatigue and overstrain of the eye muscles . It occurs when working at a computer for many hours, as well as when reading books from the screen of a tablet or smartphone, especially in low light.
Incorrectly selected contact lenses or glasses (including improper care of them).
Lack of proper sleep and rest . If a person goes to bed late and sleeps less than 5-6 hours, the eyes do not have time to recover properly.
Injuries and damage to the mucous membrane (for example, in a strong wind, sand can get into the eye and thereby cause irritation).
Allergies to used cosmetics, cleansers, food, flowering plants or pet dander. A distinctive feature in this case is that the discomfort stops after the irritating factor is eliminated.
Decreased immunity and colds , accompanied by cough and runny nose.
Dry eye syndrome. Insufficient hydration of the mucous membrane due to being in a dusty or smoky room, as well as as a result of prolonged work at the computer.
Hormonal changes in the body (for example, during menopause).

Know! Other causes of discomfort may be inflammatory diseases of the eyeball, including:

Conjunctivitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye either as a result of an allergic reaction or infection with pathogenic microorganisms - viruses, bacteria, fungi).
Keratitis (inflammation of the cornea of the eye of traumatic or infectious origin).
Uveitis (inflammation of the choroid of the eye).
Blepharitis (inflammation of the edges of the eyelids and swelling).
Cyclitis (inflammation of the ciliary body).
Glaucoma (increased intraocular pressure).

To identify the exact cause of pain (especially if it occurs periodically), you need to consult an ophthalmologist .

This is explained by the fact that in the case of an existing inflammatory disease, serious complications are possible (the pathology can become chronic, and over time lead to blindness - in the absence of adequate and timely treatment).

Eyes hurt in the morning

Articles

The eyes are considered the most sensitive human organ. That is why, as a reaction to some pathological process or external influence, pain occurs.

If it is observed for a long period, then this is a signal to contact a specialist. Eyes can hurt in the morning for many reasons. These include inflammatory or infectious processes, fatigue, and an allergic reaction.

Only an ophthalmologist can figure out why discomfort occurs in the morning.

When determining a particular pathology, it is important to take into account the side symptoms. In addition to severe pain in the morning, the patient may experience:

redness;
itching;
discharge from the eyes;
burning sensation, pain;

In some cases, blurred vision or blurred vision may occur.

Treatment

Keep in mind! Depending on the cause of discomfort, experts recommend:

Eliminate irritating factors (for example, in case of allergies, use hypoallergenic products, wet clean the room, etc.).
Spend more time outdoors.
Give your eyes the necessary rest (for example, if you work at a computer, take a 15-minute break at least once an hour).
Get enough sleep (at least 7-8 hours).
Maintain eye hygiene (carry out water procedures in the morning and evening, do not go to bed with makeup).
Recheck your vision with an ophthalmologist and, if necessary, select other lenses or glasses (including do not touch lenses with dirty hands and use only clean containers for them).
Treat colds in a timely manner.
Be examined by an endocrinologist (for the presence of hormonal disorders).

Eye drops and ointments

Important! In case of inflammatory diseases, it is recommended to use the following drugs:

Aktipol (drops). An effective antiviral and immunomodulatory agent intended for the treatment of viral conjunctivitis and keratitis. In addition, the drug can be used for dry eye syndrome or in case of fatigue. It is recommended to instill 1-2 drops into the conjunctival sac up to 6-8 times a day (for inflammatory diseases). Course of treatment: 5-7 days. And to eliminate dryness and pain, 1-2 drops are enough. 2-3 times a day. The average price is 300 rubles (5 ml).
Tetracycline ointment. Antimicrobial and bacteriostatic agent for the treatment of conjunctivitis and relief of pain after waking up. The ointment must be placed into the conjunctival cavity up to 3-5 times a day (in case of inflammation). Price - 75 rubles (5 g).
Opatanol (drops). Antiallergenic agent to relieve allergy symptoms and subsequent discomfort. Instill 1 drop 2 times a day. Price - 480 rubles (5 ml).
Oftocipro (ointment). A broad-spectrum antimicrobial drug intended for the treatment of diseases such as keratitis, blepharitis, conjunctivitis, etc. Place behind the lower eyelid (in a small amount) up to 3 times a day. Course of treatment: 5-7 days (on average). Price - 180 rubles (3 g).
Tobrex (drops). A broad-spectrum antibiotic, effective for the treatment of conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis, cyclitis, etc. Instill 1-2 drops every 4 hours (until symptoms subside). Price - 185 rubles (5 ml).

Each specific case requires an individual dosage and course of treatment (especially in the case of glaucoma) - for this you should consult a doctor.

Be careful! Self-medication is not recommended, because in the case of inflammatory diseases it can only worsen the situation.

Folk remedies

As folk remedies, it is worth trying lotions and rinses made from pharmaceutical herbs (chamomile, sage, etc.).

And, unlike pharmaceutical drugs, they will not cause harm.

To prepare the decoction you need 1 tbsp. l. dry herbs (or a filter bag) pour a glass of boiling water, then cool (strain if necessary) and apply to closed eyelids for 10-15 minutes (or rinse your eyes with the decoction).

Frequency of procedures: 5-6 times a day (until pain is eliminated).

Pain in the eyes: causes, symptoms, treatment

Stinging in the eyes

- this is an unpleasant sensation, very similar to pain when a foreign body gets into the eye. It can be either barely noticeable or very strong, and occurs for a variety of reasons.

This pain is sometimes described as a feeling of sand in the eye, and in some cases it is accompanied by photophobia. For some, it strikes in the morning before the start of the working day, for others, on the contrary, at night, after the person has spent the whole day at the computer.

Why this happens, how to get rid of burning eyes and what symptoms to pay attention to - we’ll tell you in more detail.

Pain in the eyes: causes

The appearance of this pain is stimulated by many factors. Some influence us quite rarely, others almost constantly. Among the most well-known causes of eye discomfort are the following:

entry of a foreign body;
exposure to strong chemicals;
allergic reactions when confronted with something that can provoke them;
constant lack of sleep;
any eye disease for which sand in the eyes is one of the common symptoms.

In addition, there are special cases that affect people who wear contact lenses. Sometimes a feeling of sand in their eyes occurs precisely after removing the lenses - this means that they need to contact a specialist and choose others, because these simply do not fit.

Separately, it is worth highlighting dry eye syndrome: because of it, it hurts the eyes most often. Lack of moisture usually appears due to poor lighting, dry air or constant work at the computer.

Of course, the most common causes of pain in children and adults differ: the former usually introduce an infection into the eye by touching it with dirty hands, the latter overwork or lack of sleep.

Pain in the eyes: symptoms

Sharp pain in the eyes when waking up or, on the contrary, before going to bed extremely rarely occurs on its own: with this sensation, other symptoms appear, indicating that you are affected by some kind of eye disease, and the sooner you are given an accurate diagnosis, the better.

Other symptoms include:

itching;
lacrimation;
redness of the eye;
increased sensitivity to light;
peeling of the skin of the eyelids;
purulent discharge;
swelling.

Of course, the state of vision changes noticeably for the worse. If you notice that it’s as if sand has been poured into your eyes, and your vision has become worse, do not hesitate - make an appointment with an ophthalmologist.

Treatment for pain in the eyes

Despite the fact that in pharmacies you can find dozens of different types of drops for pain in the eyes, you should not buy them without a doctor’s recommendation: the medicine will be prescribed to you depending on the exact reason for the discomfort. The same thing happens with creating a treatment plan.

If the problem is an infectious disease, you will need a drug containing an antibiotic: it will quickly kill the infection and stop the inflammatory process.
If the problem is a foreign body, the doctor will remove it and prescribe something to heal the eye.
Sometimes pain appears due to an eye injury. To get rid of the consequences of serious damage, you may be prescribed surgery, and after that you will have to undergo a course of treatment.
In the same case, when the pain occurs due to dry eye syndrome, good moisturizing drops are sufficient.

Of course, there are folk remedies, but you shouldn’t resort to them. The eyes are a very fragile and valuable organ, and therefore it is better to entrust the care of them to professionals, without waiting for the situation to become much worse.

How to avoid burning eyes

To maintain vision in excellent condition, prevention is necessary - taking precautions. This way you can avoid pain in the eyes and other unpleasant symptoms.

If you work with chemicals, be sure to wear safety glasses. Some compounds are so strong that if they get into the eye, it can cause blindness rather than simple pain.
Try to go to bed on time and avoid staying up late at the computer. You should let go of your phone at least a couple of hours before bed.
If your job means that you can’t do without a full day in front of a monitor, change your activities regularly, get away from your desk, and do eye exercises.
Keep track of what cosmetics you use and whether everything is in order with expiration dates.
Avoid contact with allergens.
As for any eye drops, they can only be used if prescribed by a doctor.

Take care of your visual acuity and do not forget to contact a specialist in time if necessary!