Gritty Eyes: Causes and Treatment

Having gritty eyes is uncomfortable to say the least. What causes this sensation, and what can you do about it? In today’s post, local eye care center Six One Six Vision Center sheds light on causes and treatment options for gritty eyes.

What Causes Gritty Eyes?

Gritty eyes is a symptom that can be caused by a number of conditions, many of which require treatment from an eye doctor. These are the most common causes:

Dry eye syndrome — Dry eye syndrome occurs when the eyes are insufficiently lubricated due to issues with the tear glands.
Corneal abrasion — This is a scratch on the cornea’s surface, often caused by a foreign object getting into the eye.
Blepharitis — Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelid that causes swelling and soreness, as well crusts around the base of the eyelashes.
Allergies — Allergies, including allergic conjunctivitis, can be triggered by pollen or other allergens. Common symptoms associated with eye allergies include redness, swelling and a burning sensation in the eyes.
Sunburned eyes — The cornea may develop a sunburn from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Many types of eyeglasses feature coatings that protect the eyes from UV radiation.
Pinguecula and pterygium — These are growths that appear on the conjunctiva of the eye.
Sjögren syndrome — This autoimmune disorder mostly affects people over age 40 and causes dry eyes.

Treatment for Gritty Eyes

Your first stop should be a visit to your eye doctor, where the cause and an appropriate course of treatment will be determined. Treatment may include specific types of eye drops or ointments, applying warm compress, or switching to eyeglasses if you’re wearing contacts.

You can help prevent gritty eyes by wearing protective eyewear, regularly washing your hands and taking periodic eye breaks at work or when reading. Using artificial tears can help prevent the gritty sensation caused by dryness.

If you need help with gritty eyes or need an optometrist for protective eyewear, call Six One Six Vision Center at (208) 514-1858 or schedule online anytime. We serve customers in Eagle and Meridian, ID.

COVID-19

To our Six One Six Vision Center Families,

Our office is fully open to serve your eye care needs. We cannot wait to see you in our office again! With the health and safety of our team and patients at the forefront of our minds, the following changes have taken place while we all do our part to fight this pandemic:

We ask that if you are experiencing a fever, shortness of breathe, or a cough that you reschedule your visit at this time.

We are asking our patients to complete as much of the typical intake paperwork and collecting of insurance information electronically to reduce the amount of team members they need to be exposed to at the office.

We have very strict cleanliness procedures for anyone who comes in to our office at every point of their visit to lower risk of potential infection.

Now more than ever, we need to take care of ourselves, our families, and our communities as best we can, while practicing safe social distancing recommendations. We will get through these difficult times together, and I promise you our office and our team will be here to support you as best we can during these changes, and will be even stronger once we can return to normal care.

Be well, stay strong, take care of each other.

– Six One Six Vision Center Team

Very impressed.

I thought both the care prior to seeing Dr. Shelby Strick and during the exam was excellent. Everyone at the facility was friendly, conscientious, and paid attention to detail. Dr....

Sharon W.

Friendly

Very friendly staff! I had to bring my daughter in; they all were so kind and fun. She definitely love the man helping us pick out some glasses. Thank you

Victoria C.

Eye Exam

I just had an eye exam with Dr. Shelby Strick. It was my first appointment with the good Dr. She Not only met my expectations but exceeded them !! Very...

Claudia M.

The service I get there is great.

I have been going to Six one Six for about 4 years now. The service I get there is great. They ask lots of questions to find the right fit...

Steven S.

Friendly staff

Friendly staff, professional and kind doctors, clean location… such a great experience!

Jessica C.

I love going to the eye doctor! The staff, stylist, and doctor are all personable, upbeat, and professional. I also love that I'm given options that will work for my...

Jeanna V.