Glassy eyes occur when your eyes appear glazed over or shiny, like glass. Depending on the underlying cause, glassy eyes can be an acute (short-term) symptom or the result of a chronic (long-term) issue.

Understanding the cause of your glassy eyes can help you treat and manage them appropriately.

A healthcare provider can refer you to an eye specialist, such as an optometrist or ophthalmologist, to help you get a proper diagnosis.

Glassy eyes can look slightly different for each person and may vary based on the underlying cause. They may look glazed over, smooth, glossy, or like your eyes are watery and unfocused. Some people compare glassy eyes to having a blank stare on your face.

Glassy eyes can vary in how intense they appear and how long they last. It’s possible to experience glassy eyes for a short period or over days, weeks, or months. Depending on the trigger, glassy eyes can also present with other eye-related symptoms, such as redness and itchy eyes.

Glassy eyes can happen for many reasons, including eye conditions, allergies, dehydration, medications, and other substances.

Eye Conditions

Some eye conditions can lead to glassy or glazed-over eyes. Two examples include dry eyes and conjunctivitis (pink eye).

Because tears lubricate the eyes, limited tear production causes occasional dry eyes or dry eye syndrome. Dry eyes can result from external factors like environmental triggers (e.g., wind) or staring at a computer screen for too long, or due to health conditions like Parkinson’s disease.

You may experience other symptoms with dry eye syndrome, such as:

• Difficulty blinking
• Eye redness
• Photophobia (light sensitivity)
• An itching or burning feeling in the eyes.

Pink eye is a contagious eye condition that commonly develops from a bacterial or viral infection. The affected eye often turns pink or red and can appear watery or glassy. You’ll likely also notice swelling, discomfort, and a crusty discharge around the edge of the affected eye.

Allergies

Allergic conjunctivitis (eye allergies) can occur when your eyes come into contact with an allergen. This can irritate your eyes and the sinus area behind them, sometimes leading to glassy eyes.

When you experience eye allergies, your eyes can become itchy and irritated, and they might look red, swollen, and glassy with a clear, watery discharge.

Different types of allergens can trigger eye allergies, including:

• Pollen from grass, trees, or weeds
• Pet dander
• Dust mites
• Mold
• Cigarette smoke
• Perfume

Medications

Some medications have eye-related side effects, which can lead to the appearance of glassy eyes. Here are a few of the potential culprits:

• Isotretinoin: This medication, used to treat severe acne, can dry out and irritate the eyes. It’s known by its former brand name, Accutane.
• Antihistamines: These are used to treat allergies and can reduce tear production in your eyes. Common medications include Flonase (fluticasone propionate), Allegra (fexofenadine), Claritin (loratadine), Zyrtec (cetirizine), and Benadryl (diphenhydramine).
• Antidepressant and antipsychotic medications: These affect your central nervous system and the blinking function of your eyes. Standard options include Elavil (amitriptyline) and Mellaril (thioridazine).
• Hormone therapy and oral contraceptives: Estrogen-only varieties appear to impact the oil-producing glands in your eye and your tear film (the protective layer of liquid covering your eye’s surface).
• Blood pressure medications: These medications, such as beta-blockers, may affect the sensitivity of your cornea (a part of the front layer of your eye) and tear production.

Always check with your healthcare provider first before stopping any prescribed medications on your own. They may be able to suggest a replacement or help you gradually stop using the drug.

Lifestyle Factors

A couple of different lifestyle factors can lead to a glassy eye appearance.

Using alcohol and certain stimulants or drugs (like nicotine, marijuana, amphetamines, and more) can impact how your eyes look. Intoxication can cause your pupils to dilate (enlarge), and other eye changes may cause them to appear glazed over, glassy, or watery.

Another factor is dehydration. When you haven’t had enough water or other fluids, your eyes may not be properly lubricated by tears and may appear glassy.

Other Health Conditions

Other health conditions also have the ability to impact the eyes—sometimes leading to eyes that appear glassy. For example:

• Graves’ disease: As an autoimmune disorder that can impact the eyes, Graves’ disease often triggers the eyelids to open more than usual. This can cause your eyes to dry out and appear glassy. Other symptoms associated with Graves’ disease include hair thinning, swelling around the neck area, and weight loss.
• Herpes: The strain of this sexually transmitted infection (STI) that sometimes causes oral (mouth) symptoms can also impact your eyes. If your glassy eyes are because of herpes, you may also experience redness, excessive tears, sensitivity to light, and blisters around your eyelids.
• Hypoglycemia: Also known as low blood sugar, hypoglycemia can happen with diabetes and other health conditions. You might notice glassy eyes along with other symptoms, like blurred vision, shaky hands, excessive sweating, dizziness, and pale skin color.

It’s generally good practice to see an eye specialist, like an optometrist or ophthalmologist, regularly for a routine visit, if accessible to you. These appointments are useful for monitoring your eye health and catching any symptoms, like glassy eyes, early on.

While occasional glassy eyes aren’t a cause for concern, there’s a chance it could be from an underlying condition, causing discomfort or damage to your eye.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, see your healthcare provider as soon as possible:

• Eye discharge
• Red or painful eyes
• An eye sore or injury
• Sudden blurred vision or vision changes
• Painful, swollen, or stiff joints, along with a dry mouth

During the visit, your eye specialist will check your overall eye health and vision. They may ask about your medical history, current medications, and symptoms, including whether you’re experiencing pain, tearing or discharge, or light sensitivity.

They may perform the following tests to help diagnose you:

• Dilated eye exam: This involves dilating your eyes (widening your pupils) with eye drops to examine the back of your eye for complications.
• Schirmer’s test: The provider will place a test strip underneath your eyelid to determine how well your eyes produce tears.
• Tear film: This test examines the makeup of your tear film and allows a specialist to check for any imbalances of oil, water, or mucus that might indicate a condition like dry eye.
• Quality test: By placing a special dye in your eye, this test gauges how lubricated your eyes are and how long it takes your tear film to dry out.

If necessary, you may complete other tests, like blood tests, to rule out any additional health conditions or concerns that lead to glassy eyes.

The goal of treating glassy eyes is to get rid of or manage this symptom and its underlying cause, restoring your eyes to normal appearance and moisture levels.

Specific treatment plans will depend on the diagnosis. There are a handful of options that your healthcare provider may recommend based on common causes.

Some of these treatment options include:

• Lubricating eye drops: Also called artificial tears, providers prescribe or recommend over-the-counter (OTC) hydrating eye drops for dry eye and related issues.
• Allergy treatment: Prescription or OTC eye drops and oral medications containing loratadine or diphenhydramine can help treat allergy-related glassy eyes. Removing the allergen (like pet dander or mold) may also be recommended.
• Antiviral or antibiotic medications: In cases of an infection, like herpes or pink eye, your healthcare provider may prescribe antiviral or antibiotic medications to clear the virus or bacteria.
• Lifestyle changes: Methods like reducing screen time, staying hydrated, and managing environmental triggers can help alongside other treatments you’re receiving for glassy and dry eyes.

Other glassy eye causes, like having an underlying health condition, experiencing a medication side effect, or managing substance use, will require additional tailored treatment options from your healthcare provider.

It may not be possible to prevent every case of glassy eyes. However, you can take steps to keep your eyes healthy overall, which may help reduce your chances of experiencing glassy eyes in the first place.

Here are some of the tips that experts recommend to promote eye health:

• Give your eyes a rest: Try to reduce your screen time during the day.
• Wear sunglasses: Even on cloudy days, sunglasses can protect your eyes from the sun, wind, and allergens.
• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to help support your tear production.
• Eat antioxidant-rich foods: These foods include dark leafy greens and foods that have omega-3 fatty acids to support overall eye health.
• Have good hygiene practices: Keep your hands washed and avoid touching your eyes to prevent eye infections.
• Avoid smoking and limit alcohol use: This can help make sure substances aren’t making your glassy eyes worse.
• Practice safe contact lens care: This includes keeping your prescription up to date, disinfecting contacts nightly, and replacing them regularly.

Glassy eyes can be a symptom of allergies, eye or health conditions, substance use, dehydration, medication side effects, and more.

Treatment options for glassy eyes include eye drops, prescription medications, or lifestyle tweaks.

See your provider immediately if you notice pain, redness, discharge, or vision changes alongside glassy eyes.