Dry eye disease is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. People suffering from this disease experience various symptoms, including burning, itching, redness, and tearing. What most people don’t know is that dry eye disease tends to worsen at night. In this article, we will explain why dry eye worsens at night and what we can do to manage it.
Causes of dry eye disease at night:
Dry eye symptoms can primarily occur due to a lack of tear production or poor-quality tears. When we sleep, we produce significantly fewer tears than when we are awake¹, and we aren’t blinking to refresh the tear film regularly. This means that our tears are left stagnant for longer which can result in increased absorption or evaporation. In addition, some people may not get a perfect seal between their eyelids when their eyes are closed, which can significantly increase evaporation and expose the surface of the eye to dry air – leading to worse dry eye symptoms on awakening.
Dry eye symptoms can primarily occur due to a lack of tear production or poor-quality tears. When we sleep, we produce significantly fewer tears than when we are awake¹, and we aren’t blinking to refresh the tear film regularly. This means that our tears are left stagnant for longer which can result in increased absorption or evaporation. In addition, some people may not get a perfect seal between their eyelids when their eyes are closed, which can significantly increase evaporation and expose the surface of the eye to dry air – leading to worse dry eye symptoms on awakening.
How dry eye affects sleep:
People affected with dry eye can experience difficulty in sleeping well. Studies have shown a correlation between dry eye and reduced sleep quality, but the exact reason why has not been discovered². What we do know is that poor sleep quality and sleep disturbances can lead to daytime tiredness, decreased productivity, and other health issues.