Screwdriver in Eye at Waking

If eyes are not properly lubricated during sleep, (during REM sleep the eyes move quickly causing aqueous tears to be secreted by the lacrimal glands and meibum to be secreted from the meibomian glands), the eye lids may be stuck to the eyes in the morning. When the eyes are opened for the first time after sleeping, the lids may rip off corneal cells. Some people say this feels like a screw driver is in the eye.

Lagophthalmos, a condition where the eye does not close completely, can also lead to a feeling of a screw driver in the eye, because the area of the eye that is exposed during sleep may become dry.