Waking up should feel refreshing, but for many, it comes with an annoying twist—sore, irritated eyes. This discomfort is surprisingly common and can have a real impact on your mornings and productivity. Typically, eye pain in the morning is caused by 1 or a combination of factors, including dry eyes, environmental conditions, poor contact lens care, or even certain health conditions.
In some cases, eye pain could indicate a serious issue with your eye health. It’s not always a red alert, but it’s worth visiting your optometrist so we can examine your symptoms and recommend a treatment to get your morning’s feeling right again.
How Does a Normal Eye Function Overnight?
Our eyes are remarkable organs that require proper lubrication (via tears) and protection (via eyelids while you sleep) to feel and function well. Tears aren’t just for crying. They work around the clock, providing moisture, removing debris, and keeping the eyes healthy.
This tear production slows down overnight, which is why some dryness is normal—but persistent pain or discomfort might signal something more.
Reasons for Eye Pain in the Morning
There are several reasons that could explain your morning eye discomfort. Here are the most common culprits:
Dry Eye Disease
Dry eye disease occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or when tears evaporate too quickly. At night, slower tear production can lead to debris building up in your tear glands, which can further lead to dryness.
Here’s what to look for:
- Gritty or sandy sensation in the eyes
- Redness
- Blurry vision
- Excessive tearing
Digital Eye Strain
We may love our phones, but they don’t always love us back. Spending long hours staring at screens before bedtime can lead to digital eye strain.
It’s not just your eye muscles getting tired, either. Concentrating on a screen causes us to blink less. A person normally blinks about 17 times a minute. But while using a screen?
As little as 4 times a minute! It’s no wonder prolonged screen use can dry out the eyes—which can be especially noticeable the next morning.
Here’s what to look for:
- Tired or strained eyes, especially in the evening
- Headaches
- Difficulty focusing after screen use
Allergies
Allergens like dust, pet dander, or pollen can stick to your pillows and bedding, causing an allergic reaction even if normally you don’t have a strong trigger. By morning, the majority of the reaction may have passed, but inflammation and tear quality issues can still make waking up unpleasant.
Here’s what to look for:
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Puffy eyelids or redness upon waking
- Sneezing or sniffles
Nocturnal Lagophthalmos
Nocturnal lagophthalmos is a condition where your eyelids don’t close fully while sleeping. Even this slight gap can expose your eyes to the air, causing dryness, irritation, and some seriously unhappy eyes in the morning.
So, what causes it? It could be weak nerves or muscles responsible for eyelid movement, or conditions like Bell’s palsy, eyelid injuries, or even past eye surgeries messing with your lids. Sometimes, it’s simply about the shape of your eyelids or facial structure.
Here’s what to look for:
- Unusual dryness upon waking
- Persistent irritation even with plenty of sleep
- Recent eye injury or surgery
Contact Lens Issues
Contact lenses offer many benefits, but they require a certain amount of care. While some contacts are approved for overnight wear, we typically don’t recommend sleeping in them if at all possible. Contacts can trap debris, reduce oxygen flow, and worsen dryness overnight.
Here’s what to look for:
- Discomfort around the lens area
- Persistent redness
- Blurry vision
Environmental Factors
Your bedroom environment can play a significant role in your eye health. Air conditioning, heating, or low humidity levels can dry out your eyes while you sleep.
Here’s what to look for:
- Irritation that worsens during drier months
- Persistent dehydration, including skin, hair, and lips
Medical Conditions
Certain medical issues like conjunctivitis (pink eye), blepharitis (eyelid inflammation), or sinusitis can also transform into morning eye pain. Sometimes, old eye injuries can cause a condition called recurrent corneal erosions, where the surface of the eye gets irritated or doesn’t heal properly.
Here’s what to look for:
- Persistent or severe pain
- Swelling or discharge
Alleviating Morning Eye Discomfort
If your eyes are stealing your morning joy, here are a few strategies that may help:
- Keep your bedroom clean to minimize allergens like dust and pet hair.
- Opt for hypoallergenic bedding and wash your pillowcases weekly.
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule: For every 20 minutes of screen time, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
- Power down your devices 1–2 hours before bedtime to reduce digital eye strain.
- Use artificial tears before bed to soothe inflammation.
- Avoid sleeping with contact lenses in.
- Switch to daily disposable lenses for a fresher, more hygienic experience.
- Position fans or air vents away from your bed.
If your eyes still hurt when you wake up despite taking precautions, book an appointment with your optometrist. A comprehensive eye exam can rule out more serious conditions like corneal issues or infections.
Your Mornings Deserve Better. We Can Help.
We can’t all be morning people, but waking up with sore, irritated eyes shouldn’t be your routine. By understanding the causes and implementing helpful strategies, you can start every day feeling refreshed.
Don’t wait for the discomfort to worsen! Book an appointment with West Coast Optical today. Our team can examine your eyes, identify the root cause of your pain, and recommend tailored treatments so you can see your mornings in a whole new light. Tomorrow’s a new day—let’s meet it with healthy eyes!
