Eye conditions or other medical problems may be the culprit for your gritty eyes. Here are some possible causes along with other symptoms you may have in addition to the feeling of grittiness:

Dry eye syndrome is a condition that happens when your body does not make enough tears to lubricate your eyes, or when your tears evaporate too quickly to provide that lubrication.

Having dry eyes can cause symptoms like:

• burning
• stinging
• scratchiness
• watery eyes

If untreated, dry eye can lead to infections or damage to the surface of your eyes.

A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the surface of the cornea, the clear outer layer at the front of your eye. It’s often caused by contact with:

• fingernails
• makeup brushes
• tree branches
• over-wearing your contacts

If you have a corneal abrasion, it might feel like something is stuck in your eyes. Or, your eyes might feel sandy or gritty. A corneal abrasion can be quite painful.

Blepharitis is inflammation of your eyelids. The condition might cause eyelids to look swollen or red. They may also burn and feel gritty or sore.

Sometimes, blepharitis can cause crusts to develop around the base of the eyelashes.

It can be treated with:

Allergic conjunctivitis, or “eye allergies,” can happen when an allergen irritates your eyes. In response, your eyes produce a substance called histamine.

Pollen is a common allergen that can aggravate eyes.

Eye allergies can cause:

• redness
• swelling
• itchiness
• tearing
• burning

Washing your face and changing your clothes when coming in from outside can help reduce pollen exposure.

Pinguecula and pterygium are growths that appear on your eye’s conjunctiva, the clear covering that sits on the white part of the eye.

A pinguecula is a lump of fat, protein, or calcium. It looks like a yellowish, raised lesion that usually appears on the side of the eye that’s near your nose.

Pterygium is a fleshy tissue growth that has blood vessels. It can stay small or sometimes grow big enough to cover part of your cornea.

These conditions can cause different symptoms, including gritty eyes.

Wearing sunglasses when you’re outside may slow these growths.

It mostly affects people in their 40s and 50s, and women are more at risk than men.

Treatments may involve different types of eye drops, surgery, or other medications.

Not getting enough vitamin A in your diet can affect the health of your eyes and cause symptoms of dry eye.

You can counteract the deficiency by eating foods that are high in vitamin A, like:

• carrots
• eggs
• fish
• spinach
• broccoli

If your eyes are overexposed to UV radiation, the cornea can develop a sunburn. This may cause a gritty sensation in your eyes. Decreasing your eye use through rest is the most common treatment. Wearing sunglasses and using artificial tears or ointment may also help.

Thyroid disease, a condition where your thyroid doesn’t function properly, can cause eye symptoms, such as:

• red eyes
• watery eyes
• double vision
• bulging eyes
• difficulty closing eyes

Some people with thyroid disease also report experiencing gritty or scratchy eyes.

The medications you take can cause dry eyes and a gritty feeling. Some of these include:

Other medical problems can trigger eye symptoms like gritty eyes. These include:

Exposure to certain environmental conditions, like smoke, wind, or a dry climate, can affect your tear evaporation and cause gritty eyes.

Sometimes, dry or gritty eyes are the effects of aging. Dry eye is more common in people over 50.

Contact lenses are a popular alternative to glasses. But long-term use of contacts can lead to symptoms of dry eye.

Be sure to follow the instructions on how to properly clean, store, and apply your contact lenses.