Glassy Eyes: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

When your eyes take on a glassy appearance, you might wonder what’s going on — and if you have anything to worry about.

Thankfully, glassy eyes are a relatively normal problem that can be caused by something as simple as minor dehydration or digital eye strain. Still, it’s worth knowing the main causes and treatments for this issue so that you can have peace of mind.

Here’s everything you need to know about glassy eyes.

What Are Glassy Eyes?

“Glassy eyes” refers to when a person’s eyes take on a glassy look and have an unfocused or watery appearance. The underlying cause can be anything from an eye condition to something much milder.

What Are the Causes of Glassy Eyes?

Glassy eyes have many common causes, including all of the following:

Alcohol Consumption

Drinking alcohol can give your eyes a glossy look and make them seem unfocused. This is especially the case when someone drinks excessively, which can affect the brain and central nervous system in ways that alter the appearance of the eyes.

It’s never a good idea to drink excessively, as it can cause much more than glassy eyes and blurry vision. Always enjoy alcohol responsibly.

Dehydration

Not drinking enough water can make your eyes dry and irritated, especially in cases of severe dehydration. This is because when you don’t get enough fluids, your eyes cut down on tear production.

As you can imagine, drinking plenty of water is the best way to avoid this issue. In addition, you can avoid the uncomfortable side effects of dehydration by using some over-the-counter eye drops. However, H20 is the main solution.

Allergies

Seasonal allergies can cause itchy, watery eyes, which can cause that glassy look.

If you know that you have a reaction to specific allergens, consider taking OTC or prescription medications to manage the symptoms. Sometimes, immunotherapy can be especially helpful for people with more severe seasonal allergies.

If you think you might be dealing with glassy eyes due to seasonal allergies, we recommend visiting both an allergist and an eye health specialist, like an ophthalmologist. That way, you can get insight into both how to take care of your eyes and how to address your allergies in general.

Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

Pink eye is a highly contagious infection that can make your eyes itchy and cause the appearance of glossy eyes. It’s also characterized by discharge, redness, and several other uncomfortable symptoms, including tearing.

Viral conjunctivitis typically goes away on its own, but bacterial conjunctivitis may call for antibiotics to avoid a more serious infection or other health issues. Since this eye infection is very contagious, it’s also a must to avoid sharing anything that touches your eyes with other members of your household as you recover, including towels, makeup brushes, and more.

Herpes

Ocular herpes is an eye disease that can cause glossy eyes, blurred vision, and even eye pain. Unlike some other forms of herpes, it requires prompt treatment from an eye doctor.

If you think you might have ocular herpes, don’t wait to get the care that you need. This eye problem can lead to complications if not given attention right away.

Graves’ Disease

Graves’ disease is a condition that can cause your eyes to bulge and take on a glassy appearance.

If you think you might have this condition, it’s important to schedule a check-up with your doctor. Graves’ is an autoimmune condition that can have a systemic impact on your body, causing other issues related to your thyroid gland.

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can also give your eyes a glassy appearance. However, this sign of low blood sugar usually goes away when you get some carbohydrates in your system.

If you regularly deal with low blood sugar and related symptoms like glassy eyes, it’s worthwhile to talk to your doctor. Diabetes might be the culprit behind your blood sugar drops.

Dry Eyes

Dry eyes are a common problem often caused by looking at a screen for too long. Using a computer or another digital device for a long time can reduce the amount that you blink, reducing your eye lubrication.

As a result, looking at your computer screen for hours might dry out your eyes and give them a glassy appearance. Thankfully, this cause of glassy eyes is fairly easy to set right; you probably just need a break from the computer and a good night’s sleep.

If you deal with dry eyes on a regular basis, it may be time to get support from an optometrist or ophthalmology specialist. There may be another underlying issue at the root of your chronic dry eyes.

How Are Glassy Eyes Treated?

In some cases, glassy eyes go away on their own. However, if your eyes look glassy on a regular basis, some treatment might be needed.

Here’s what the treatment process might look like for glassy eyes:

An Eye Exam

If your eyes regularly have a glassy appearance, the first step to take is scheduling an eye doctor appointment. Getting your eyes checked will give you a clearer sense of what’s causing them to look the way they do.

Your eye doctor will most likely use a series of diagnostic tests to look closely at your eyes and make sure you’re not dealing with an eye disease like cataracts or glaucoma. If your eyes are relatively healthy, they may look into other potential causes behind their glassy appearance.

In some cases, an eye doctor might recommend over-the-counter treatments for glassy eyes, like eye drops, to relieve dryness. They might also encourage you to spend less time on your digital devices and stay hydrated.

However, if you’re dealing with an underlying condition, it’s possible that your optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist, who specializes in more intensive treatments and eye surgeries.

How Do You Prevent Glassy Eyes?

Glassy eyes aren’t always preventable without help from an eye health professional.

However, there are a few steps you can take to deal with some of the more common causes of glassy eyes:

Limit Screen Time

As we covered above, looking at a screen for too long can reduce the amount that you blink, making your eyes dry, irritated, and uncomfortable — and also giving them a glassy appearance at times.

If you can, limit the amount of time you spend on digital devices to avoid eye strain and other issues like glassiness. This might be hard in the digital age, but even a short break after 20 minutes of on-screen work can make a big difference.

Limit Alcohol Intake

Alcohol can hurt your overall health, especially when you drink excessively. If you’re struggling with alcohol abuse, get help right away from loved ones and professionals. Dealing with an addiction to a substance like alcohol can be extremely tough, but it’s worth it to live a healthier and more balanced life.

If you drink more casually but still find that alcohol negatively affects your life, consider taking a break for a few months. See if abstaining from alcohol improves your eye health — and your overall health. You might be surprised by the results.

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration can cause dry eyes, dry mouth, and other uncomfortable symptoms. If you’re not drinking enough water, you might experience these symptoms daily.

Getting plenty of H20 is the best way to stay hydrated and avoid dry, glassy eyes. Keep a reusable water bottle handy to get into the habit of hydration. Once you’re drinking water consistently, you might find that your eyes feel significantly better — and look less glassy — throughout the day.

Get Your Eyes Checked Regularly

It’s always a good call to get your eyes checked at least once a year. An eye exam will get you an updated prescription for eyeglasses and contact lenses, but it will also give you peace of mind knowing you have a clean bill of eye health.

Once you have your next eye appointment, consider picking up a new pair of glasses online instead of buying them in-store. That way, you can save money, get access to new glasses styles, and import your description directly into your Pair Eyewear account for an easy, streamlined process.

Keep Your Eyes Healthy

Eye care is self-care — we’re firm believers in that around here.

Daily eye care can be as simple as drinking plenty of water and taking breaks from your screens. Regularly seeing your eye doctor and addressing issues like allergies or eye infections are also key parts of your eye care routine, too. With these habits, you can keep your eyes looking and feeling happy and healthy.

If you’re ready for a new pair of glasses, check out our full selection of Base Frames.

Sources:

Pink eye (conjunctivitis) - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic

Ocular Herpes (Eye Herpes): Symptoms & Treatment | Cleveland Clinic

Graves' Disease | Mayo Clinic

Hypoglycemia - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic