What Are The Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome?

Introduction

Dry eye syndrome affects millions of Americans every year. It can be one of the most frustrating medical conditions that can reduce your quality of life. 

The symptoms of dry eye syndrome can differ from patient to patient. They can even vary in the same patient from day to day. 

Let’s discuss the symptoms of dry eye syndrome in depth, helping you to understand and identify the condition so that you can treat it effectively.

Types of Dry Eye Symptoms

Dry eye syndrome can cause several different types of symptoms. They can be divided into the following categories:

  • Sensory symptoms or "How it feels"
  • Vision symptoms
  • Red eye symptoms
  • Eyelid symptoms

Understanding your symptoms can help you better guide your treatment. Discuss these symptoms with your eye doctor. 

Sensory Symptoms Of Dry Eye Syndrome | "How it Feels"

Sensory symptoms are a common hallmark of dry eye syndrome, and can range from mild to severe. The most common sensory symptoms of dry eye include:

  1. Irritation: Many people with dry eye feel a sense of irritation or scratchiness in their eyes. This may be accompanied by a burning or stinging sensation, especially after being in a dry or windy environment.
  2. Burning: A burning sensation in the eyes is one of the most common symptoms of dry eye. This burning can be mild or severe. It can often be described as sharp or stinging.
  3. Foreign Body Sensation: Some people with dry eye feel as though they have something in their eye, even though there is nothing there. This foreign body sensation can be uncomfortable and distracting.
  4. Sharp Pain: In some cases, dry eye can cause sharp, stabbing pains in one or both eyes. This pain is usually brief, but it can be severe enough to be debilitating.
  5. Watery Eyes: Paradoxically, some people with dry eye experience an increase in tear production, which can cause watery eyes. This occurs when the eye overcompensates for the lack of the oil component of tears by producing more of the watery component from the lacrimal glane. However, these poor quality tears can evaporate quickly, leaving the eyes feeling dry. 

Vision Symptoms Of Dry Eye Syndrome

In addition to the sensory symptoms of dry eye syndrome, many people also experience vision problems. Some of the most common vision symptoms of dry eye include:

  1. Blurred Vision: Dry eye can cause the vision to become blurry or hazy, making it difficult to see clearly. 
  2. Fluctuating Vision: Some people with dry eyes experience fluctuations in their vision throughout the day, with periods of good vision alternating with periods of blurred or hazy vision. This can be frustrating and make it difficult to perform daily tasks. 
  3. Double Vision: Dry eye can also cause double vision (read more below), which is when two separate images are seen at the same time. This can be alarming and may require immediate attention from an eye care professional or the emergency room to make sure it is not something more severe.

A note on double vision: Double vision associated with dry eyes is “monocular double vision”, which means that if you cover one eye, the double vision does not go away. This is different from “binocular double vision” which does go away when one eye or the other is covered. Binocular double vision is a medical emergency, and may indicate life-threatening medical problems like stroke, aneurysms, or tumors. 

Red Eye Symptoms of Dry Eyes

Redness, or “red eyes”, are a common symptom of dry eye syndrome. When the eyes are dry, the surface of the eye can become inflamed. The results in the small blood vessels in the conjunctiva dilating, becoming more prominent, leading to a red appearance. 

This redness can be accompanied by other symptoms such as burning, itching, or visual symptoms, and can be quite distressing. 

It’s important to know that there are many causes of red eyes other than dry eye syndrome. Many of these causes can be serious, and even vision threatening. 

Serious conditions that can cause red eyes include:

  • Infections
  • Uveitis
  • High Eye Pressure

If you are experiencing new red eye symptoms it’s important to see an eye doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Eyelid Symptoms of Dry Eyes

In addition to the sensory and vision symptoms of dry eye syndrome, many people also experience symptoms related to their eyelids. There are oil glands near the eyelashes that can be involved in dry eye syndrome. When these oil glands become blocked, they can become irritated and inflamed.

 Some of the most common eyelid symptoms associated with dry eye syndrome includes:

  1. Redness: The eyelids can become red if they become inflamed from meibomian gland dysfunction adn blepharitis.
  2. Itching: Itchy eyelids are a common complaint among people with dry eye syndrome associated with allergies. 
  3. Crusting: The eyes may produce an excess of mucus or tears, which can harden and form crusts on the eyelids, especially after sleep.
  4. Stickiness: The eyes can become sticky from a thickening of the oils from dysfunctional meibomian glands. These thickened oils can for a sticky biofilm along the eyelid margin that can result in the eyelids feeling stuck together. 

These eyelid symptoms can be associated with meibomian gland dysfunction, blepharitis, or allergy.

Warm compresses and eyelid scrubs can be a good place to start for these symptoms. But, as always, we recommend consulting with your doctor to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment. 

How Long Do Dry Eye Symptoms Last?

The duration of dry eye symptoms can vary depending on the underlying cause and the severity of the condition. In some cases, mild dry eye symptoms may only last a few hours or days and can be managed with over-the-counter artificial tear drops. In other cases, the symptoms can persist for weeks, months, or even years and may require more aggressive treatment.

The length of time that dry eye symptoms persist also depends on factors such as age, overall health, and environmental factors, such as exposure to dry air, wind, and dust. For example, people who spend a lot of time in front of a computer or in air-conditioned environments may be more susceptible to dry eye symptoms that last longer.

What Should You Do If You Have These Symptoms?

If you have any of these symptoms of dry eyes, it's important to seek treatment from an eye care professional. There are many different underlying causes of dry eyes, and there other serious conditions that may share some of these symptoms.

Artificial tears are the most basic starting point for most patients that can often provide the fastest relief. 

Summary

We hope you found this comprehensive review of the symptoms associated with dry eyes helpful. If you have comments or questions you can contact us. Best of luck in managing your dry eye symptoms.