Difficulty opening the eyes in the morning may be treated with an ointment at bedtime. Using a humidifier to add moisture to the air and avoiding smoke, wind and other irritating conditions may provide relief. Soft contact lenses may also be used to keep moisture on the surface of the eye, thus providing the needed moisture and lubrication. In some cases, the punctum may be permanently sealed to keep the tears from draining out of the eye too quickly. The punctum may be blocked by the insertion of permanent punctum plugs or by surgical techniques or lasers.
Flashes appear as sudden brief glints of light.
Both floaters and flashes commonly occur as we grow older. Floaters are formed from the reorganization of the vitreous material and from some fragments of the retina which have been pulled into the vitreous cavity. Floaters are especially common in nearsighted people, in people who have suffered severe eye injuries and after eye surgery. Although uncommon, floaters can also result from inflammation within the eye or from crystal-like deposits which form in the vitreous gel. When the vitreous gel which fills the inside of the eye rubs or pulls on the retina, it sometimes produces the illusion of flashing lights or lightening streaks called flashes.