Gritty Eyes: A Comprehensive Guide on Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Gritty Eyes: A Comprehensive Guide on Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Gritty eyes feel like they have something foreign in them. Most people describe it as the sensation of having sand in the eyes. You may feel the irritation or scratched feeling without having anything in the eyes causing the discomfort. It can either be mild or severe.

Symptoms of Gritty Eyes

You may experience the following symptoms if you have gritty eyes:

• Itching

• Dryness

• Eye redness

• Watery eyes

• Burning

Causes of Gritty Eyes

You may experience gritty eyes due to eye conditions or medical problems. Below are the possible causes that may cause the gritty sensation:

• Dry eye syndrome - You experience this condition when your eyes cannot produce adequate or quality tears. As a result, your eye surface lacks lubrication. Dry eyes cause symptoms such as scratchiness, stinging, and burning. As a result, you experience a gritty eye

• Contact lenses - Long-term contact lens use can cause dry eye symptoms. Ideally, follow the cleaning, storing, and contact application instructions

• Medications - You can experience a gritty feeling in your eyes if you take medications like antihistamines. Birth control pills, antidepressants, and blood pressure drugs also cause gritty eyes

• Allergies - You can experience eye allergies when an allergen like pollen irritates your eyes. As a result, your eyes produce histamine. Eye allergies cause redness, burning, tearing, itchiness, and swelling

• Corneal abrasion - A scratch on the front clear surface of your eye constitutes a corneal abrasion. It often occurs when your cornea meets fingernails, tree branches, or makeup brushes. You may feel like you have a foreign object stuck in your eyes. Your eyes will feel gritty or sandy, and it can be painful

• Aging - Gritty eyes can be part of the aging process. People over 50 tend to experience it often

• Environmental conditions - You can experience gritty eyes when exposed to environments like a dry climate. Spending an extended period staring at and working on your computer can trigger this symptom

• Sjogren syndrome - Experiencing this autoimmune disorder causes dry mouth and eyes. As a result, individuals experience gritty eyes

• Pinguecula and pterygium - Your conjunctiva can get these growths. A pinguecula looks like a yellow lesion. It is a calcium or protein lump of fat. A pterygium is a fleshy blood vessel-filled tissue that can remain small or grow to cover the cornea partly. These growths can cause symptoms like gritty eyes

• Vitamin A deficiency - Insufficient vitamin A in your meals can cause dry eye symptoms and affect your eye health. Counter vitamin A deficiency by eating carrots, broccoli, eggs, spinach, and fish

• Laser eye surgery - You can experience temporary dry eye symptoms after laser eye surgery

• Thyroid disease - Individuals experiencing thyroid functioning problems report experiencing gritty eyes

• Other medical conditions - Diseases like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis trigger gritty eyes

Ways to Prevent Gritty Eyes

You can prevent gritty eyes by avoiding exposing your eyes to fans, air conditioners, or blowing air. Take breaks from reading or using your computer. Wear wraparound sunglasses or safety eye shields outdoors to block wind or dry air. Avoid smoking or being around smoke to prevent worsening the symptom. Use artificial tears to help keep your eyes constantly lubricated.

When to See a Doctor

See a doctor if the discomfort lasts several days. Your ophthalmologist or optometrist can help identify the cause of your symptoms. Once they know why you experience gritty eyes, they will recommend the ideal treatment.

Treatments

Speaking to your eye doctor will help identify the best treatment for gritty eyes based on its cause. They may recommend artificial tears, eyelid cleansers, or eyedrops that lubricate and soothe eyes.

Your eye doctor can also prescribe keeping your tears longer in your eyes by surgically closing or blocking your tear ducts. Eyelid massages or placing warm compresses on your eyes can also help.

For more about gritty eyes, visit University Optometric Center at our office in Irvine (949) 216-8900 or Newport Beach (949) 476-2870, California.