Yikes...they are red!!
I’ve had this “little issue” now for several months… I wake up at night, and my eyeballs feel like dry little orbs covered with a sandpaper lid….no moisture at all to blink. I’ve been handling this uncomfortable problem in one of several high-tech(not) ways…pull my eyelids up and blink without the lid touching the eyeball to get some tears started…dip a finger in the glass of water on the beside table and put a drop in each eye(so hygienic)…or, and I feel terrible admitting this…spit on a finger and put that in my eye. Hey, it worked. But not doctor approved.
And I have to thank a viewer for kicking me enough to go have this seen about. She wrote: “I am a loyal watcher of Channel 11 News, but I’ve noticed that Donna Hamilton’s eyes are often red and bloodshot…her eyes are too pretty to be red!” Ok…I know my eyes are kinda pink on occasion, especially if I fill in on the 11 pm show(I’m normally asleep by then!), but I didn’t think viewers could see that. Thanks HD.
I bought the ultra...the tears are a little thicker for night...
So I did see the doc yesterday morning(And I did not admit the spit part) and told him about the dry eye and red eye thing…he said even though my eyes FEEL fine in the daytime, they’re probably still dry, and the eye’s way of getting oxygen when there’s not enough moisture is for the blood vessels to dilate. Not pretty. So he recommended for a first try, artificial tears called Systane…to try at night and during the day…and if the nighttime trouble continues, he gave me a nighttime ointment, that I hope I won’t need.
And I’m adding some other things that I found on a website called the Dry Eye Zone….which has some interesting tips of dealing with dry eyes, including putting warm rice bags on your eyes, right before you go to sleep, to stimulate the oil protection….using an eye mask, and drops of course.
An eye mask helps keep moisture in...
The mask also helps to protect the eyes from ac or fans that might blow in your face. Last night, I used only the Systane Ultra and a mask…and it was much better than previous nights. I still woke up, but didn’t have to add drops, because my eyes felt pretty moist. Tonight I’ll give the rice bags a try. I’ll let you know how it goes!
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Hamilton's Habitat 
Donna, If the extreme dry eyes don’t improve, go to a rheumatologist and be checked for Sjogren’s Syndrome. It is an autoimmune disorder that causes dry eyes, mouth and other symptoms. There are a number of things that you can try for the eyes besides drops. I was diagnosed with it in 2004 and my main complaint was the dry eyes.
I, too, had noticed how red your eyes were. I just thought that maybe you were working too much. I’m glad you saw a doctor about it. I use Systane and am pleased with it (though I don’t have as bad a problem as you seem to). Good luck!
Donna,
I have chronic dry eyes due to Lupus. I use a brand of drops called Genteal and they are great. They have a night time gel that isn’t all gooey like some of the ointments. All of the good drops are a little pricey but well worth it.
Carol