Have you ever experienced that annoying sensation of something being stuck in your eye, even though you can’t see anything there? This frustrating feeling could actually be a symptom of dry eye, a common condition that affects millions of Americans.
Keep reading to learn more about whether dry eye can feel like there’s something in your eye and what treatments are available to help you find relief.
What is Dry Eye?
Dry eye, or dry eye syndrome, is a chronic condition that occurs when your eyes either don’t produce enough tears or produce tears of poor quality that evaporate too quickly. A healthy tear film consists of three essential components: oil, water, and mucus.
All three elements must be present in the right amounts to keep your eyes properly lubricated and comfortable. When this delicate balance is disrupted, your eyes become vulnerable to irritation and inflammation.
This can lead to that persistent feeling that something is in your eye, even when nothing is actually there. This sensation, known medically as “foreign body sensation,” is one of the most common and frustrating symptoms of dry eye.
What are the Symptoms of Dry Eye?
That gritty sensation of something being in your eye is just one of many symptoms that can indicate dry eye syndrome. If you’re experiencing dry eye, you might also notice:
- Burning or stinging sensations that can range from mild to severe
- Redness due to inflammation of the eye’s surface
- Blurred vision that may come and go throughout the day
- Light sensitivity that makes bright environments uncomfortable
- Eye fatigue or feeling like your eyes are “tired”
- Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses comfortably
- Watery eyes as your body tries to compensate for the dryness
Why Does Dry Eye Cause a Foreign Body Sensation?
The feeling that something is in your eye occurs because dry eye causes microscopic damage to the cornea, which is the clear, dome-shaped surface of your eye. When your eye lacks proper lubrication, the corneal surface becomes irritated and may develop tiny abrasions.
Your cornea is incredibly sensitive, containing one of the highest concentrations of pain receptors in your body. Even minor damage or dryness can trigger these pain receptors, creating that persistent feeling of grittiness or a foreign object in your eye.
What makes this particularly frustrating is that you may repeatedly check your eye or try to flush it out, but the sensation persists because it’s not caused by an actual particle.
Rather, it’s the dry, irritated surface of your eye sending pain signals to your brain.
How to Get Relief from Dry Eye
By making an appointment with your eye doctor at Loden Vision Centers, you can get a proper diagnosis for dry eye and begin a treatment plan based on the specific cause and severity of your condition. Our goal is not just to provide temporary relief but to address the underlying causes of your dry eye symptoms.
Your eye doctor may recommend a variety of dry eye treatments, including:
At-Home Care Strategies
Simple lifestyle changes and at-home treatments can make a significant difference:
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day
- Take regular breaks from screen time using the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds)
- Use a humidifier in dry environments, especially in your bedroom while sleeping
- Protect your eyes from wind and direct airflow from fans or heating/cooling vents
- Apply warm compresses to your eyelids for 5-10 minutes daily to help release oils from the meibomian glands
- Prioritize foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like fish, flaxseed, and walnuts, which may help improve tear quality
Eye Drops
When lifestyle changes aren’t enough, your eye doctor may recommend eye drops. They’ll likely start by suggesting you use over-the-counter artificial tears, but if those are not sufficient, they may prescribe eye drops like Restasis or Xiidra, which can help increase your natural tear production or reduce inflammation in your tear glands.
Punctal Plugs
These tiny devices can be inserted into the tear ducts to block drainage, keeping your natural tears on the surface of your eye longer. Punctal plugs can be temporary or permanent, depending on your needs.
LipiFlow®
Loden Vision Centers is proud to be the only practice in the state offering LipiFlow®, a breakthrough treatment for dry eye syndrome. This advanced technology is particularly effective for patients whose dry eye is caused by meibomian gland dysfunction, which is often responsible for that “something in my eye” sensation.
LipiFlow® works by applying gentle heat to the inner eyelids where the meibomian glands are located and simultaneously massaging the eyelids to remove blockages and stimulate the natural production of oils. This can restore the proper balance to your tear film in just one comfortable, in-office treatment.
In clinical studies, 79% of patients reported improved overall dry eye symptoms within four weeks of a single LipiFlow® treatment.
Personalized Dry Eye Solutions
At Loden Vision Centers, our experienced eye care specialists understand how disruptive dry eye symptoms can be to your quality of life. That persistent feeling of something in your eye doesn’t have to be something you just live with.
We’ll conduct a thorough examination to determine the exact cause of your symptoms and develop a personalized treatment plan that addresses your specific needs. From advanced LipiFlow® therapy to simple lifestyle modifications, we’re committed to helping you find relief from dry eye.
Schedule an appointment at Loden Vision Centers in Nashville, TN, today!
