According to medical statistics, approximately 60% of the population sooner or later begin to feel unpleasant pain in the eyes after waking up. After sleep, the eyes hurt both in children and in adults, but there are many reasons for this phenomenon. This article will tell in detail about the symptoms of this phenomenon, its causes, as well as methods of treatment.
Main symptoms
To study the problem of pain in the eyes after sleep, the characteristic symptoms of the disease should be considered. These include:
- a feeling of sand in the eyes, that is, pain and severe burning;
- disappearing and reappearing itching;
- increased photosensitivity;
- lacrimation
- redness of the eyeball;
- swelling.
In addition, in severe cases, there may be a discharge of pus from the orbits, a drop in vision, and the inability to focus the gaze. In some patients, after sleep, both head and eyes hurt, in which case it is worth considering the possibility of migraine. This disease has several forms, some of which can provoke the appearance of pain in the orbits.
Causes of discomfort
If your eyes hurt after sleep at regular intervals or constantly, you need to think about your health. Of the reasons not caused by any disease, eye fatigue arising from prolonged reading or working behind a monitor without special glasses is distinguished. In case of overwork, the symptoms are drowned out when the eyelids close, when the eyes have the opportunity to rest.
Eyes may hurt in the morning after sleep, and with high blood pressure. In this case, as a rule, discomfort extends to the entire frontal part. The obvious explanation for why the eyes hurt in the morning after sleep is that the organ is injured or a foreign body is in it.
Pain and pain in the eyes often occur with seasonal or chronic allergies. Unpleasant sensations can also be caused by the so-called dry eye syndrome. The root cause of this phenomenon is considered insufficient moisture in the mucous membrane of the eye. Subjected to it are people who spend a large amount of time in front of a computer, which provokes poor eye mobility and insufficiently frequent blinking. Thus, the natural process of moisturizing and cleansing the eyeball is disrupted.
Women can have sore eyes after sleep and against a background of hormonal changes. So, for example, many feel this discomfort during menopause.
Correct diagnosis will help determine the exact cause. For this, it is necessary to consult a specialist at the first symptoms, who will help to recognize the problem and prescribe the correct treatment.
Probable diagnosis
There can be a huge number of reasons why eyes hurt after sleep in the morning. Often, the problem is inflammation of the eyeball, which can lead to glaucoma, keratitis, or conjunctivitis. Inadequate personal hygiene, low immunity, eye injuries and improper handling of contact lenses can trigger acute conjunctivitis.
With keratitis, there is inflammation of the cornea with possible clouding. With glaucoma, the pain manifests itself slightly, but there is a slow decrease in visual acuity.
In addition, pathologies that can cause the above symptoms include optic neuritis. If, in addition to pain, the patient also has a sharp decrease in vision, then it is possible due to infectious processes or any autoimmune diseases that he has developed neuritis. Some ENT diseases (otitis media or sinusitis), as well as dental pathologies can also provoke pain in the eyes.
If there is eyelid edema, pain when pressed, itching and lacrimation, and sometimes fever, then it is likely that the cause of the symptoms was inflammation of the intra-ciliary region, in other words, barley. Inflammation of the eyelids, blepharitis, is caused by a violation of the human endocrine system, viruses and low immunity. It is distinguished from barley symptoms by increased fatigue, peeling of the skin around the eyes, and the formation of a dry crust on the orbits.
In the case when, in addition to pain in the eyes, the patient complains of a headache and the inability to focus his eyes, corneal or lenticular astigmatism is possible. Symptoms of the above diseases can occur in both one and both eyes. But if, after sleep, the left eye hurts as much as the right eye, and besides that, photophobia, severe swelling, lacrimation and hyperemia are observed, then perhaps this is a viral disease that is transmitted from contact with things that are sick, a trachoma.
Diagnosis and treatment
Treatment of any of the eye diseases as a standard includes examination, measurement of eye pressure and the delivery of necessary tests. Among the latest diagnostic methods, biomicroscopy and genioscopy are distinguished. Biomicroscopy allows examination using a slit lamp, which is used to diagnose uveitis in a patient. Genioscopy is aimed at detecting glaucoma. She examines the general drainage system of the organs of vision.
In controversial cases, an ultrasound may be prescribed. A complex of these procedures is guaranteed to give an answer to the question of why the patient's eyes hurt in the morning after sleep, and will help the doctor make the correct diagnosis.
With medical treatment, the doctor in the case of diseases of the eyeball will prescribe drops and tablets to eliminate eye or nose infection. In the case when the foreign object was the cause of the pain, the latter is removed and a course of antibacterial and healing drugs is prescribed. If viral infections were identified as the cause of the pain, then the doctor will prescribe antibiotics, immunostimulating and antihistamines. All eye drops should be dripped no more than six times a day, two or three in each eye.
Eye drops and ointments
In the case when the soreness of the eyes is caused by tonsillitis or herpes, it is recommended to use oxolinic ointment and chloramphenicol drops. In case of dry eye syndrome, doctors recommend Aktipol, Vidisik drops or Dexpanthenol ointment.
To treat conjunctivitis and reduce pain, a tetracycline ointment is suitable. If the discomfort was caused by an acute manifestation of an allergic reaction, it is necessary to drip "Opatanol."
In case of keratitis, conjunctivitis and blepharitis, “Oftocipro” ointment is used, it has a wide antimicrobial spectrum. Tobrex is considered an effective antibiotic in the form of eye drops, but it should be noted that the dosages, course and rules for taking each of the drugs should be regulated by the attending physician.
Folk remedies
From pain in the eyes, traditional medicine recommends pouring a tablespoon of birch leaves with boiling water. Leave the infusion for half an hour, and then strain and make lotions twice a day. This tool will relieve fatigue from the eyes and eliminate inflammation.
In case of eye strain, it is advised to make decoctions of aloe leaves, chamomile and plantain. In addition, a combination of celandine and honey relieves inflammation well. It is necessary to dissolve a tablespoon of celandine in hot water, bring to a boil, boil for about five minutes, leave for half an hour and then add honey. In the infusion, you will need to moisten gauze or a cotton swab and put on your eyes for five to seven minutes. An effective way to relieve pain, swelling and fatigue is tea brewing.
Recovery period
During the recovery period, it is important to prevent re-infection or resumption of pain. To do this, ophthalmologists advise observing eye hygiene (do not get into eyes with dirty hands, use only your own towels), visit an oculist from time to time, maintain immunity, and do eye exercises.
It is imperative in the recovery period to adhere to proper nutrition and daily routine, to abandon bad habits. Also, do not forget about eye protection from sunlight and when working behind a monitor.
Ophthalmologist Tips
Ophthalmologists, answering the question why eyes hurt after sleep, are advised to adhere to the basic rules for the prevention of eye diseases to prevent this kind of pain. Allergy sufferers are advised to remove irritants working behind monitors - spend more time in the fresh air, give their eyes a rest, taking breaks for ten to fifteen minutes, and use the necessary protective equipment. The general advice is to sleep seven to eight hours at night. In addition, do not forget about eye hygiene and a regular examination by a specialist.