Did you know the eye is the second most complex organ in the body with more than two million working parts?
At the same time, it’s delicate. Take the retina, for example, it can easily be damaged by too much light.
Certain conditions can also cause a constant gritty feeling in the eyes, which can be quite uncomfortable. Is that what you’re experiencing? Want to know what might be causing it? If so, you’re at the right place.
We’ll be going over a few common causes below. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry eye is a condition in which the eyes don’t produce enough tears to lubricate and coat the eye. This can lead to various symptoms such as burning, stinging, and a gritty feeling in one eye (learn more about it here).
Fortunately, there are many ways to treat it. For example, there are over-the-counter eye drops that you can use, which will moisten the eyes. Holding a wet, warm cloth over your eyes for a few minutes can also alleviate symptoms.
Adding omega-3 supplements to your diet can help as well. Studies have shown that they may reduce inflammation in or around the eye, which can help treat the condition.
2. Blepharitis
Blepharitis is a common eye condition in which the oil glands in your eyelids become inflamed; this can cause them to become swollen or red. Not only that, but they may also feel gritty or sore.
As it is, it can be caused by many things such as a bacterial infection or eyelash mites. It’s also possible to have an allergic reaction to cosmetic products such as makeup.
Depending on the severity, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics or steroid treatment. Warm compresses can help as well.
3. Vitamin A Deficiency
Vitamin A is important for normal vision, among many other things. Not getting enough in your diet can cause the symptoms of dry eye. For example, you may feel a gritty feeling in eyes at night.
The good news is that you can easily counteract the deficiency by eating vitamin A-rich foods. Some examples include spinach, broccoli, carrots, fish, and eggs.
There are also supplements that you can take. Not only that but it’s often included in multivitamins as well in the form of retinal palmitate or retinal acetate.
Keep in mind, however, that you don’t want to take too much. The recommended daily amount is 700 micrograms for adult women and 900 micrograms for adult men.
The Common Causes of Gritty Feeling in the Eyes
As you can see, there are several things that can cause a gritty feeling in the eyes. When in doubt, talk to your optometrist or doctor—they’ll be able to identify and treat the underlying issue.
Did you find this post helpful? For more content like this, be sure to check out the rest of our health section!
