The gritty, scratchy feeling caused by dry eyes can be incredibly distracting. You might find yourself blinking hard, trying to clear away the discomfort. If you also sometimes get blurry vision, you might be wondering if the two are related.
Yes, dry eyes can cause blurry vision. Fortunately, by understanding the connection, making small changes to your lifestyle, and visiting your eye doctor at Vision Care Grayslake as needed, you can find the relief that you deserve.
What Dry Eye & Blurry Vision Feel Like
Dry eye can exhibit a number of symptoms. Many of these come and go, especially when you’re reading or looking at a screen.
On-again, off-again blurriness is one symptom of dry eye. Fluctuating vision can make it harder to concentrate on tasks and can leave your eyes feeling tired and overworked by the end of the day.
You may also experience:
- A stinging or burning feeling
- A sandy sensation—like something is in your eye
- Redness and irritation
- Watery eyes, which is your body’s response to the dryness
- Vision that gets blurry, then clears up for a moment
The Link Between Your Tear Film & Clear Sight
Your eyes are covered in a thin, smooth layer of tears called the tear film. This layer does more than just keep your eyes moist; it’s also essential for clear vision. For your tear film to work properly, it needs a specific balance of water, oil, and mucus. When that balance gets thrown off, your vision can become fuzzy.
Think of your tear film as having three layers. The oily outer layer keeps your tears from drying up, the watery middle layer provides moisture and nutrients, and the inner mucus layer helps your tears stick to your eye’s surface. If any of these layers are out of sync, the whole system can have trouble keeping your eyes comfortable and your vision clear.
When Your Tears Evaporate Too Quickly
A healthy tear film has an oily outer layer that prevents the water layer from evaporating. If the glands that produce this oil get blocked, your tears end up short of oil and evaporate too quickly. This condition, known as meibomian gland dysfunction, leaves dry spots on the surface of your eye that distort light and make your vision blurry. Blinking often fixes the problem, as it redistributes tears across your eyes.
When Your Eyes Are Too Watery
It might sound strange, but watery eyes can also be a sign of dry eye. When your eyes get irritated from dryness, they can produce a flood of tears as a defense. These emergency tears are mostly water and lack the right oils to stick to your eye’s surface, so they don’t lubricate well. This can also make your vision blurry—almost like trying to see clearly underwater.
Common Causes of Dry Eyes
Many factors in your daily life can contribute to dry eyes. Common ones include:
- Screen Time: Focusing on a computer, tablet, or phone can cause digital eye strain due to the fact that you blink less often, which dries out your eyes.
- Environment: Air conditioning, heating systems, wind, and dry climates can all cause your tears to evaporate faster.
- Age: It’s common for tear production to decrease as people get older.
- Contact Lenses: While many people can wear contacts with dry eyes, for some, they can contribute to dryness and discomfort.
- Certain Medications: Some medicines for allergies, colds, or blood pressure can reduce tear production as a side effect.
- Hormonal Changes: Life stages like pregnancy or menopause can affect tear production for some people.
Simple Ways to Find Relief at Home
You can try a few simple things to help soothe your eyes and potentially clear up blurriness. These small adjustments can make a big difference in your family’s comfort throughout the day.
- Take Screen Breaks: Remind everyone to follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
- Add Moisture to the Air: Using a humidifier in your home can add moisture to the air, which helps slow down tear evaporation.
- Protect Your Eyes Outdoors: Wear wraparound sunglasses to shield your eyes from wind, sun, and other irritants.
- Try Artificial Tears: Over-the-counter eye drops can provide temporary relief by adding moisture back to your eyes.
When to Schedule an Eye Exam
If you’ve tried these tips and your eyes still feel dry and your vision remains blurry, it may be time for a comprehensive eye exam. Persistent symptoms are a good reason to have your eyes checked by a professional.
At Vision Care Grayslake, our team can take a closer look at your tear film and the glands around your eyes. We can measure both the quantity and quality of your tears in order to understand the cause of your dry eye. This detailed information helps us recommend an approach to help you find lasting relief. Book an appointment today and let us help you see clearly again.
