Rubbing your eyes is a completely normal response. When you get an itch, or they feel a little dry, most of us give into the temptation to rub them because the movement stimulates tear production, which can alleviate your immediate symptoms. However, it is also one of the worst things you can do for the extended health of your eyes and surrounding tissue.
Worsening Conditions
Allergies are among the most common causes for eye rubbing. Unfortunately, the perceived relief of stimulating tear production is typically short-lived as well as misleading. All About Eyes explains that coming into contact with allergens causes your body to create histamines. These organic compounds help to open up the blood vessels, giving white blood cells better access to the foreign elements entering the eye. Unfortunately, inflammation is a side effect of that increased access, hence the itching.
When you rub your eyes, the tears created momentarily soothe the irritation. Unfortunately, rubbing your eyes can also increase histamine production. As a result, a few minutes of relief quickly turns into a dangerous cycle, causing your eyes to become increasingly inflamed. As hard as it may be, you are doing yourself a huge favor if you just ignore your itching eyes during allergy season. If it gets really bad, talk to your local optometrist about prescription eye drops for severe allergies.
Cosplaying as a Raccoon
In addition to increasing eye irritation, rubbing your eyes can increase the appearance of dark circles and cause redness. Men’s Health reports that the skin and tissues around our eyes are so sensitive that the act of rubbing often ruptures blood vessels in the eye and surrounding skin. The burst blood vessels in the white of your eye will make them appear bloodshot, while the blood vessels around your eyes will actually bruise. Cumulatively, rubbing your eyes will make you look older and more tired.
Physical Damage
If burst blood vessels weren’t enough to convince you that rubbing your eyes is a bad idea, then consider this. The debris causing irritation in your eye isn’t always smooth around edges. In fact, the act of rubbing your eyes could expose your cornea to damage. According to Healthline, applying pressure to the debris in your eye could actually scratch your cornea, the protective layer in front of the eye. A scratch to the cornea is not only painful. It could actually damage your vision and/or allow an infection to take hold.
Healthline states that symptoms may include: eye pain, light sensitivity, reduced vision, blurry vision, inflammation, headache, nausea, and fatigue. If you experience a mixture of these symptoms after rubbing your eyes, then contact your optometrist immediately to treat the source of the damage and prevent further harm.
Just Don’t Do It
Whether your primary concern is comfort, aesthetics, or your physical health, the answer is the same. You should never rub your eyes. When you get the urge, find a distraction. Many manual activities act as a good substitute, so bring on the rubber bands and fidget spinners. Additionally, if you find yourself repeatedly waking up with bloodshot eyes and dark circles, then it is possible that you are rubbing your eyes while you sleep. All About Eyes suggests wearing a sleep mask during the night to protect your eyes while you’re asleep.
If you experience severe irritation or dry eyes, then speak to your doctor about using eye drops and what brands may work best for your individual symptoms. The lubrication provided by eye drops can treat irritation at the source, providing almost immediate relief, without turning you into a red-eyed raccoon.