Many think that dry eye syndrome is when your eyes feel dry. Though that gritty, dry sensation is a hallmark of this condition, that’s not nearly the half of it. The truth is that dry eye presents in many ways with varying symptoms, some of which may surprise you. In this article, we’ll share eight sneaky dry eye symptoms you should never ignore. We’ll also share what to do if you think you may have dry eye. 

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye is an uncomfortable eye condition where your natural tears don’t adequately lubricate your eyes. It could be an issue with tear quality, tear quantity, or a combination of both. Regardless of the origin, the condition is chronic and progressive, meaning that it has the potential to stick around and worsen over time. Left untreated, the condition can make everyday life a struggle. 

Dry eye has many names, including Dry Eye Disease (DED), Dry Eye Syndrome (DES), and Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS).

Learn more about dry eye here.

8 Not-So-Obvious Dry Eye Symptoms

We’ve covered the basics of dry eye - now it’s time to get into the sneaky dry eye symptoms you came here for. Each of the below symptoms may indicate that your eyes are crying out for moisture. 

1.     Persistently Watery Eyes 

This symptom may seem odd, as dry eyes are expected to be dry - not watery. But when you’re suffering from dry eye, your eyes may become so irritated that they produce extra tears as a reflex, even if there’s no actual irritant to flush out. Per the Mayo Clinic, people complain of watery eyes more than any other dry eye symptom. 

2.     A Burning Sensation

Your eyes need proper lubrication via tears to remain healthy and happy. When they aren’t getting that, they may protest with burning. Why? When your eyes aren’t getting enough moisture/lubrication, they can become inflamed and even damaged on the surface. Hence the burning sensation. 

If your eyes burn for no obvious reason, it could very well be dry eye. 

3.         Red or Bloodshot Eyes

When you look in the mirror, do you notice that your eyes look red and angry? This could stem from the irritation and inflammation we often see with dry eye. Depending on how severe your case is, the degree of redness may vary from mild to totally bloodshot. So long as dry eye disease is left untreated, your eyes are likely to remain red. 

4.         An Itch You Can’t Seem to Satisfy

Few things are more frustrating than an itch you can’t seem to satisfy, especially if it’s your eye that’s itching. You rub and scratch away with no long-term relief in sight. Dry eye could very well be causing that uncomfortable itching sensation. Eye itchiness is another one of the top complaints among dry eye sufferers. 

5.         Stringy Eye Discharge

When you have dry eyes, you may notice a thick mucus-like discharge in or around the affected eye(s). It may be most noticeable when you wake up in the morning. 

Healthy eyes produce discharge to protect and lubricate the eye’s surface. But problems with natural eye lubrication may present a couple of issues: 

• The tears may not spread across the entire surface of the eye. 

• The tears may evaporate prematurely. 

In cases like these, the oil, mucus, and debris in the discharge may turn into a thick, stringy substance that hangs out in the crevices of your eye or lash line. 

6.         Trouble With Contact Lenses

Do you race to the bathroom to remove your contacts at the end of the day? It could be that you have contact lens-induced dry eye. 

Many of us prefer contact lenses over glasses, but these lenses can contribute directly to dry eye. Here are a couple of ways that they do so: 

• The lenses block the flow of oxygen to your eyes, which makes it harder for your lacrimal glands to produce tears. 

• The lenses absorb tears from the eye’s surface, leaving less moisture to go around. 

7.         Blurry Vision 

Do you often have to blink to clear your vision? Dry eyes can cause tear instability, leading to blurry vision.

8.         Light Sensitivity

Research into dry eyes has discovered a link between dry eye and light sensitivity. This sensitivity is thought to occur when your tears aren’t able to adequately protect your eyes from light irritation. This dry eye symptom may also stem from irregularities on your eye’s surface, which could contribute to sensitivity. These are just a couple of ways that dry eye can make your eyes sensitive to light. 

Dry Eye Syndrome Is Just One Eye Condition

Just because you have one or more of the symptoms on this list, it doesn’t automatically mean that you have dry eye. Dry eye syndrome is one of hundreds of eye conditions, and each of these symptoms could point to other eye problems. For instance, blurry vision could also be a sign of cataracts or glaucoma, and watery eyes could indicate issues like aging eyelid skin or pink eye. Still, having several of the above symptoms means that you could have dry eye. 

What to Do If You Think You Have Dry Eye Syndrome

When you do an internet search for dry eye syndrome remedies and treatments, lots of results pop up. The sheer volume of advice can be overwhelming and even disheartening. What are you supposed to do if you believe you have dry eye syndrome? We’ll cover that below in simple terms.

Contact an Eye Doctor for Professional Help With Dry Eye Problems

The most logical thing to do is to contact your local eye doctor for a professional opinion. They have gone through in-depth training on dry eye problems and other eye issues. They will talk to you about your medical history, examine your eyes, and give you a diagnosis and treatment plan. They may recommend at-home remedies or advanced treatments depending on your individual case. It’s wise to take this route for the good of your eyes, as everyone’s case will be a bit different.

If you’re in the Charlotte area, North Carolina area, text or call Northpoint Eye Studio at 704-766-1130 to schedule an appointment for a dry eye evaluation. You can also make an appointment here. 

Explore Home Remedies for Dry Eye Relief

If your dry eye symptoms are severe and debilitating, it’s wise to go the professional route and make an eye doctor appointment. But if they’re mild and you haven’t tried home remedies yet, we recommend trying some of the following tips to get some dry eye relief: 

• Taking frequent breaks from the computer. You don’t blink as often as you usually would when you’re on a digital device, and infrequent blinking can cause your eyes to dry out. So, do yourself a favor and take breaks regularly. Many have found the 20-20-20 rule to be helpful - it’s where you step away from the computer (or other digital devices) every 20 minutes and look at something that’s 20 feet away for 20 seconds. It is often used for eye strain but can also be effective for dry eye. 

• Using artificial tears/ eye drops formulated for dry eye. Make sure that your drops are preservative-free, as those that contain preservatives are more likely to cause damage to the surface of your eye. Be sure to closely follow the instructions on the packaging for the best results.

• Drinking more water. Your body can’t adequately lubricate your eyes if you’re dehydrated. The general recommendation for adults is to drink 8 glasses of water daily. 

• Applying warm compresses to your eyes. Incorporating warm compresses into your eye care routine can be extremely helpful for mild dry eye. The heat and moisture from the compress do a few things: encourage your meibomian glands to open up and produce more oil, reduce tear film evaporation, and stabilize the tear film. We recommend doing a warm compress at least once daily for the best results. 

• Get on top of eyelid hygiene. Allowing debris, oils, and other substances to build up in your lashes and on your eyelids is never a good idea. It can single-handedly cause dry eye. Cleansing your eyelids and lashes daily, taking off your makeup nightly, and removing your contact lenses daily are all important. 

 So, there you have it - 8 sneaky dry eye symptoms you probably didn’t know about, what to do if you think you have dry eye, and remedies you can try at home for mild dry eye disease. We hope you found all the information you were looking for, and we wish you the best as you pursue some much-needed dry eye relief.