If your eyes normally feel fine, it can catch you off guard when they suddenly start stinging, burning, or feeling gritty. Maybe the symptoms appear overnight or gradually throughout the day. Sudden dry eye symptoms can come out of nowhere, but they usually have a specific cause.
Knowing what might be behind the change can help you get the right dry eye treatment in Plaquemine and Baton Rouge before the condition worsens or starts affecting your daily routine. In this blog, we share some common causes of sudden-onset dry eye and how to find relief fast.
Sudden dry eye symptoms and what they feel like
Dry eye isn’t just about dryness; it’s a common condition that can significantly affect your quality of life. Common signs of dry eye include:
- Redness
- Light sensitivity
- A stinging or burning sensation
- Blurry vision or tired eyes
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
- The sensation that something is in your eye
Some people even notice excess tearing. Watery eyes happen when your eyes try to make up for poor tear quality by producing too many low-quality tears.
Sudden symptoms may show up in one eye or both and can make reading, driving, or wearing contacts difficult. If these symptoms persist for more than a day or two, even with the use of artificial tears, it’s a good idea to schedule a comprehensive eye exam to get to the root of the issue.
Common reasons dry eye can happen suddenly
Dry eye symptoms can develop quickly, but they usually aren’t random. Here are some of the most common causes:
1. Environmental changes
A sudden drop in humidity, increased exposure to wind, or spending more time in air-conditioned rooms or in front of a fan can dry out your eyes quickly. In South Louisiana, temperature shifts or seasonal allergens can also play a role.
2. Increased screen time
Using digital devices for long periods can reduce how often you blink. Blinking less leads to faster tear evaporation, which can cause symptoms to appear quickly.
3. Medications
Certain medications like antihistamines, antidepressants, blood pressure drugs, and acne treatments can cause dry eye as a side effect. Dry eye can occur even if you’ve taken the medication before without any problems.
4. Hormonal shifts
Hormonal changes, particularly in women during pregnancy or menopause or while taking birth control, can affect tear production and quality.
5. Eye procedures
Recent LASIK surgery or other eye procedures can disrupt the eye’s tear film and cause sudden dryness. You may need to wear specialty contact lenses if traditional lenses cause discomfort.
6. Contact lens irritation
Wearing contact lenses longer than usual or sleeping in them can cause dry eye. Even if you’ve worn them for years, your eyes may suddenly become more sensitive.
7. Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)
The meibomian glands line your eyelids and produce the oily layer of your tear film. If these glands become blocked, tears evaporate too quickly, which can cause dry eye symptoms to appear suddenly. This condition often requires targeted treatment.
8. Underlying health conditions
Autoimmune diseases, like Sjögren’s syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis, can cause sudden or worsening dry eye. These conditions affect the body’s ability to produce moisture.
Advanced dry eye treatments are available
If over-the-counter eye drops are no longer working and dry eye is disrupting your daily life, it may be time to explore more effective treatment options. Persistent dryness, burning, or irritation can affect everything from your work productivity to your ability to enjoy time outdoors.
Southern Eye Centers offers several non-surgical, in-office treatments for dry eye relief in both Plaquemine and Baton Rouge:
- MiBo Thermoflo: Delivers gentle heat to the eyelids to melt and release blockages in the meibomian glands, improving the oil layer of your tear film
- OptiLight IPL therapy: Uses pulses of light to reduce inflammation, support healthy tear production, and address rosacea-related dryness
- LidPro lid cleaning: Provides a deep, comfortable cleansing of the eyelid margins to remove debris and bacteria that contribute to irritation
- Scleral contact lenses: Large-diameter lenses that vault over the cornea and hold a layer of fluid against the eye, offering comfort and protection for severe dry eye or irregular corneas
These treatment options can be combined based on your specific diagnosis and lifestyle needs.
How to prevent future dry eye flare-ups
Once you get your symptoms under control, there are some steps you can take to reduce future flare-ups:
- Take regular breaks from screens using the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, focus on an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
- Use a humidifier in dry or air-conditioned rooms.
- Wear sunglasses outdoors to protect your eyes from the wind and sun.
- Follow proper contact lens hygiene and wear schedules.
- Clean your eyelids daily with warm compresses or lid scrubs.
- Stay hydrated throughout the day.
Schedule a dry eye evaluation today
Sudden dry eye symptoms can interrupt your daily life, but effective solutions are available. If your eyes feel dry, irritated, or uncomfortable, schedule a dry eye evaluation at Southern Eye Centers in Plaquemine or Baton Rouge. Our experienced eye doctors will find the root cause of your symptoms and recommend the best treatment for your needs.
To schedule an appointment, give us a call today or fill out our online appointment request form.