Does dry eye feel like something is in your eye​?

Have you ever felt like something is stuck in your eye, but nothing is there?
This feeling is very common in people with dry eye. Many people say it feels like:

• Sand
• Dust
• A hair
• Grit
• A tiny scratch

This feeling can be annoying, painful, or very distracting.
It can make everyday tasks, like reading, driving, or using screens, feel harder.

In this blog, we explain why dry eye can make your eyes feel this way, what signs to look for, and how to get help.
All in clear, simple language.

What is dry eye?

Dry eye happens when:

• Your eyes do not make enough tears
• Or your tears dry up too fast
• Or your tears are not the right quality

Healthy tears protect your eyes. They keep the surface smooth and wet so you can see clearly and stay comfortable.

When your eyes are dry, the surface becomes rough and irritated.
This is why dry eye can feel like something is stuck in your eye.

Why does dry eye feel like something is in your eye?

The surface of your eye is very sensitive.
Even tiny changes can feel big.

Dry eye can cause a “foreign body feeling” for several reasons:

1. The surface of the eye becomes rough

Without enough tears, the surface can dry, crack, or become uneven.
Your eye then sends a signal to your brain that something is wrong.

2. Your eyelids may rub on dry patches

When you blink, your eyelids move over your eye.
If the eye is dry, this movement can feel scratchy or uncomfortable.

3. The tear film becomes unstable

Your tears form a thin, smooth layer over your eye.
When this layer breaks up, your eye can feel gritty.

4. The eyelid glands may be blocked

Blocked oil glands (called meibomian glands) can make tears dry too fast.
This creates dryness and irritation that may feel like debris.

5. Light inflammation

Dryness often causes small amounts of swelling.
This can make your eyes feel heavy, sore, or like something is stuck.

Other common symptoms that come with dry eye

If you feel something in your eye, you may also notice:

• Soreness
• Itching
• Watering
• Blurry vision
• Tired eyes
• Redness
• Burning
• Stinging
• Trouble wearing contact lenses
• Feeling worse later in the day
• Needing to blink often

Not everyone has all these symptoms, but the foreign body feeling is one of the most common.

Does something actually have to be in your eye?

Not always. Many people think something is stuck because the sensation feels real. But when dry eye is the cause, there is usually nothing there.

However, it is still possible to have:

• Dust
• Eyelash
• Make-up flakes
• A small scratch

This is why a proper eye exam is important.
At My Eye Clinic in Gosforth, we can check the surface of your eye and the tear film to find the real cause.

Why dry eye gets worse with screen time

Many people say the gritty feeling gets worse after:

• Using a phone
• Using a laptop
• Watching TV
• Gaming

This happens because you blink less when you focus on screens.
Less blinking means your tears do not spread across your eye as often.
This makes your eyes feel dry faster.

Taking breaks and blinking more can help.

Can dry eye pain feel sharp?

Yes, it can.
Some people feel:

• A sharp poke
• A scratchy pain
• A feeling like a tiny stone is inside

This pain often comes from dryness on the surface of the eye or small cracks in the tear film.

If the pain becomes strong or sudden, you should have your eyes checked right away to rule out other problems.

When the feeling becomes worse

The “something in my eye” feeling can become stronger when:

• You are tired
• You wake up
• You wear contact lenses
• You are in air-conditioning
• You sit near fans or heaters
• You are outside on windy days
• You take certain medications

Dry environments and long days can make symptoms feel much worse.

How to ease the feeling

There are simple things you can try to help ease the sensation:

1. Use preservative-free eye drops

These help add moisture and smooth out the surface of your eye.

2. Blink more

Blinking spreads tears evenly.

3. Take screen breaks

Use the 20-20-20 rule:
Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

4. Use warm compresses

Warmth can help unblock eyelid glands and improve tear quality.

5. Drink more water

This helps your body make healthy tears.

6. Clean your eyelids daily

Healthy eyelids help protect your eyes.

7. Avoid rubbing your eyes

Rubbing can make irritation worse.

These steps can give relief, but they do not treat the root cause.

What causes the dryness that leads to this feeling?

At My Eye Clinic, we look for the deeper cause of the dryness.
Some common causes include:

• Blocked eyelid oil glands
• Poor tear quality
• Inflammation
• Hormone changes
• Allergies
• Long-term contact lens wear
• Certain medications
• Age
• Skin conditions that affect the eyelids

Finding the cause helps us create a treatment plan that works for you.

Treatments we offer at My Eye Clinic

We provide advanced dry eye care, including:

IPL therapy

Light therapy that reduces inflammation and supports tear function.

BlephEx®

A deep clean for your eyelids to remove debris and bacteria.

Prescription drops

Used to reduce inflammation and support tear health.

These treatments aim to fix the issue, not just cover up the symptoms.

When you should get help

Book an eye check if you:

• Feel like something is stuck often
• Have strong pain
• Have sudden redness
• Have changes in vision
• Have watering that won’t stop
• Cannot wear contact lenses
• Have symptoms every day

These signs mean your eyes need care.

Take our dry eye suitability self-test

Not sure if your symptoms are dry eye?
Take our simple dry eye suitability self-test to see if a full dry eye assessment could help.