Is It Bad to Rub Your Eyes?

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EyeQue Team

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February 19, 2021

Man rubbing his eyes

What Happens When You Rub Your Eyes? 

Man rubbing eyesDo you often find yourself rubbing your eyes at the end of a long day? If so, you’re not alone – many of us are guilty of doing it. The reason it feels so good is twofold: first, rubbing your eyes lubricates them because it stimulates tear production; and secondly, it stimulates the vagus nerve, which relieves stress by lowering your heart rate. 

However, rubbing your eyes too often or too hard can actually damage your eyes in a variety of ways.  

Bacteria 

Your hands carry more germs than any other part of your body. When you rub your eyes, you run the risk of spreading bacteria, allergens, and viruses into your eyes – this can lead to infections like pink eye.  

Before touching your eyes, you should always wash your hands thoroughly. Handwashing should always be done before putting in contact lenses or instilling eye drops. 

Broken Blood Vessels 

Rubbing your eyes can break the delicate blood vessels in your eyes, which will results in a bloody spot on your eye (called a subconjunctival hemorrhage). If the bleed is very bad, it can cause your eye to swell, which can be irritating when blinking.  

Cornea Damage 

Rubbing your eyes can also potentially cause cornea damageYou can easily rub a bit of mascara or a speck of dust into your eye which can scratch the cornea. A corneal abrasion is not only painful, but it can also lead to an infection or even permanent vision loss. 

Decreased Vision 

Rubbing your eyes can also exacerbate certain eye conditions like keratoconus or glaucoma. In patients with glaucoma, rubbing the eyes may cause a temporary spike in eye pressure which can lead to further deterioration of the optic nerve. Rubbing can also thin the cornea leading to a condition called keratoconus, which results in decreased vision and the possible need for a cornea transplant. 

How To Stop Rubbing Your Eyes  

If you want to stop rubbing your eyes, you should first identify the reason that you’re rubbing them. 

  • If your eyes itch from allergies, talk to your eye doctor about eye drops for allergies 
  • If your eyes are dry, try using lubricating eye drops 
  • If you have something in your eye, flush it with artificial tears 
  • If you’re suffering from eye strain, try some blue light blocking glasses 

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