The sensation of gritty eyes is similar to that of having a particle of sand in your eye. There are numerous potential causes and the condition is treatable.
Grittiness in your eyes basically means your eyes feel scratchy or rough. The discomfort can be mild or severe. You may also experience other symptoms like:
- dryness
- burning
- watery eyes
- redness
- itching
There are many potential causes for gritty eyes and a number of solutions that can ease the irritation.
Read on to learn more about what could be to blame for the grittiness and how doctors treat this condition.
Eye conditions or other medical problems may be the culprit for your gritty eyes. Here are some possible causes along with other symptoms you may have in addition to the feeling of grittiness:
| Causes | Symptoms in addition to grittiness |
|---|---|
| dry eye syndrome | burning, stinging, or scratchiness |
| corneal abrasion | pain |
| blepharitis | swollen or red eyelids, sore or burning eyelids, crust on eyelashes |
| allergies | redness, swelling, itchiness, tearing, and burning |
| pinguecula and pterygium | redness, swelling, yellow spot or bump on the white of the eye, blurry vision |
| Sjögren syndrome | dry eyes, dry mouth |
| vitamin A deficiency | dryness, scratchiness |
| sunburned eyes | dry and red eyes |
| thyroid disease | red, watery eyes, double vision, bulging eyes, difficulty closing eyes |
| medications | dryness |
| other medical conditions (diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma) | dryness |
| environmental conditions | dryness, tiredness |
| aging | dryness, blurry vision |
| contact lenses | dryness |
Dry eye syndrome
Dry eye syndrome is a condition that happens when your body does not make enough tears to lubricate your eyes, or when your tears evaporate too quickly to provide that lubrication.
Having dry eyes can cause symptoms like:
- burning
- stinging
- scratchiness
- watery eyes
If untreated, dry eye can lead to infections or damage to the surface of your eyes.
Corneal abrasion
A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the surface of the cornea, the clear outer layer at the front of your eye. It’s often caused by contact with:
- fingernails
- makeup brushes
- tree branches
- over-wearing your contacts
If you have a corneal abrasion, it might feel like something is stuck in your eyes. Or, your eyes might feel sandy or gritty. A corneal abrasion can be quite painful.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is inflammation of your eyelids. The condition might cause eyelids to look swollen or red. They may also burn and feel gritty or sore.
Sometimes, blepharitis can cause crusts to develop around the base of the eyelashes.
It can be treated with:
- warm compresses
- gently washing your eyelids with baby shampoo or over-the-counter lid scrubbing products
- antibiotics
- steroids
Allergies
Allergic conjunctivitis, or “eye allergies,” can happen when an allergen irritates your eyes. In response, your eyes produce a substance called histamine.
Pollen is a common allergen that can aggravate eyes.
Eye allergies can cause:
- redness
- swelling
- itchiness
- tearing
- burning
Washing your face and changing your clothes when coming in from outside can help reduce pollen exposure.
Pinguecula and pterygium
Pinguecula and pterygium are growths that appear on your eye’s conjunctiva, the clear covering that sits on the white part of the eye.
A pinguecula is a lump of fat, protein, or calcium. It looks like a yellowish, raised lesion that usually appears on the side of the eye that’s near your nose.
Pterygium is a fleshy tissue growth that has blood vessels. It can stay small or sometimes grow big enough to cover part of your cornea.
These conditions can cause different symptoms, including gritty eyes.
Wearing sunglasses when you’re outside
Sjögren syndrome
Sjögren syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that can cause dry eyes and a dry mouth.
It mostly affects people in their
Treatments may involve different types of eye drops, surgery, or other medications.
Vitamin A deficiency
Not getting enough vitamin A in your diet can affect the health of your eyes and cause symptoms of dry eye.
You can counteract the deficiency by eating foods that are high in vitamin A, like:
- carrots
- eggs
- fish
- spinach
- broccoli
Sunburned eyes
If your eyes are overexposed to UV radiation, the cornea can develop a sunburn. This may cause a gritty sensation in your eyes. Decreasing your eye use through rest is the most common treatment. Wearing sunglasses and using artificial tears or ointment may also help.
Thyroid disease
Thyroid disease, a condition where your thyroid doesn’t function properly, can cause eye symptoms, such as:
- red eyes
- watery eyes
- double vision
- bulging eyes
- difficulty closing eyes
Some people with thyroid disease also report experiencing gritty or scratchy eyes.
Medications
The medications you take can cause dry eyes and a gritty feeling. Some of these include:
- antihistamines
- antidepressants
- decongestants
- hormone replacement therapy
- blood pressure drugs
- birth control pills
- acne medications
- drugs for Parkinson’s disease
- heartburn medications
Other medical conditions
Other medical problems can trigger eye symptoms like gritty eyes. These include:
Environmental conditions and pollutants
Exposure to certain environmental conditions, like smoke, wind, or a dry climate, can affect your tear evaporation and cause gritty eyes.
Additionally, staring at a computer screen for a long period of time can prompt this symptom.
Aging
Sometimes, dry or gritty eyes are the effects of aging. Dry eye is more common in people over 50.
Laser eye surgery
Laser eye surgery can cause symptoms of dry eyes, but they’re usually temporary.
Contact lenses
Contact lenses are a popular alternative to glasses. But long-term use of contacts can lead to symptoms of dry eye.
Be sure to follow the instructions on how to properly clean, store, and apply your contact lenses.
Treatment for gritty eyes will depend on what’s causing the unwelcome symptom. Addressing the underlying condition can often help improve the grittiness.
Medical options
Some medical options for treating gritty or dry eyes might include:
- Eye drops: Different types of eye drops may be prescribed to lubricate your eyes, reduce inflammation, or increase tear production.
- Eye inserts: Inserts and punctal plugs work like artificial tears to relieve symptoms of dry eye. They look like a clear grain of rice and are placed between your lower eyelid and eyeball. The insert slowly dissolves and releases a substance that lubricates your eye.
- Cholinergics: These drugs help increase tear production. They’re available as pills, gels, or eyedrops.
- Special contact lenses: If you use contact lenses, your doctor may recommend a particular type that protects the surface of your eyes and traps moisture.
- Tear duct closure: This treatment keeps your tears from leaving your eyes too quickly. Your doctor can seal your tear ducts with small silicone plugs. Or, your physician might plug your tear ducts with a procedure that uses heat.
- Light therapy and eyelid massage: A procedure called intense pulsed light therapy along with eyelid massage may help relieve symptoms in some people with severe dry eyes.
Home remedies and over-the-counter (OTC) solutions
Some OTC or home remedies for gritty, scratchy eyes include:
- OTC eyedrops: You might try OTC eye drops. Some, like Alaway, Pataday, and Zaditor, contain antihistamines to treat allergic eyes. Others work like artificial tears to lubricate the eyes. These include brands like Refresh, Systane, and Bion Tears. Using eyedrops that are preservative-free can be more effective and less irritating. Chilling the drops makes them more effective when dealing with eye itching.
- Cold compresses: Applying cold compresses with ice may alleviate itching.
- Warm compresses: Applying a warm compress or eye mask daily can help clear up blocked oil glands.
- Omega-3 supplements: Some doctors recommend adding omega-3 fatty acids to your diet to help relieve dry eye symptoms.
- Eyelid massage: Regularly massaging your eyelids may help reduce grittiness.
- Humidifier: A humidifier can add moisture to the air and ease your symptoms.
You may help prevent gritty eyes by doing the following:
- Don’t expose your eyes to blowing air: Avoid putting your face in front of hair dryers, air conditioners, or fans.
- Give your eyes a break: Take periodic pauses when you’re at a computer or reading a book. During this time, close your eyes for a few minutes or blink repeatedly for a few seconds.
- Position your computer screen correctly: If your computer screen is below your eye level, you won’t open your eyes as wide, which could help slow the evaporation of tears.
- Wear protective eyewear: Safety shields or wraparound sunglasses may help block dry air and wind.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking or being around smoke can worsen dry eye symptoms.
- Use artificial tears regularly: Keep your eyes lubricated with artificial tear drops as directed on the package.
If the grittiness and discomfort in your eyes lasts for more than a couple of days, you should see an eye doctor.
An optometrist or ophthalmologist can help you figure out what’s causing your symptoms. To help diagnose your condition, a doctor might perform a complete eye exam and run tests to measure the volume and quality of your tears.
Once your eye doctor knows what’s causing your gritty eyes, they can recommend appropriate treatment options.
Gritty eyes are an uncomfortable but common symptom of many medical conditions, medications, or environmental factors. The good news is, there are a lot of prescription and OTC remedies that can help.
If the grittiness becomes severe or doesn’t go away, an eye doctor can recommend an appropriate therapy.
