Cant open eyelids

[Torbal]

Hi, my boyfriend has this problem when he gets very sleepy at night that he literally cant open his eyes. he will be awake saying "my eyes are stuck shut again". he doesnt have conjunctivitis or anything, he just pulls his eyelids open with his fingers. I dont think that this happens to most people when they are tired... Any ideas?

[shannonwooten]

Happens all the time when he is tired? Or jst lately?

If its just lately... maybe pink eye?

If not... he needs to get more sleep!!!

[spokangie]

I have the same problem, mine has been coming on gradually, first the left eye now both, but the left eye is the worst. I wake up and literally can't open my eye, I have to prie it open with fingers and then it takes me up to half hour to be able to open it all the way. During that period my eyes burn as if I have foreign material in them. I do have chronic dry eye but the optometrist said  that  is not the problem. His feeling is that it may be neurological or muscle related. I am being refered to a Eye Surgeon for further study..My eyes feel constantly tired, I feel like my lids are sitting on top of my eyeballs. My left eye feels like it has a droop but nothing is visible, just an internal feeling..I would suggest your boyfriend have further study done on this.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

Hello Torbal    Assuming your boyfriend is a relatively young man that has not had a droopy eye (ptosis) all his life, the most common that would cause that IS dry eyes. I would suggest when this starts to happy he put in a good artificial tear such as Systane, Soothe, Tears Naturale, Hypotears, or Opteve.  If it happens in the morning when he gets up try using Genteal gel at bedtime.

I would suggest that your boyfriend make an appointment to see an eye physician (Ophthalmologist = Eye MD) for a comprehensive eye examination and ask that it include a Schrimer Test which is a good screening test for dry eyes.

JCH III MD   Eye Physician and Surgeon