Rubbing your eyes is a common habit, often done when experiencing fatigue, itchiness, or irritation. While it offers momentary relief, this action can lead to red, irritated eyes and potentially more significant health issues. Understanding why this happens and its risks is important for maintaining eye health.
How Rubbing Causes Redness
The redness observed after rubbing your eyes is due to the delicate nature of the eye’s surface. When you rub, you apply friction and pressure to the conjunctiva, the clear membrane covering the white part of your eye and inside your eyelids. This stimulation can cause tiny blood vessels (capillaries) within the conjunctiva to dilate and sometimes break. Increased blood flow and ruptured capillaries make the white of the eye appear red or bloodshot.
Rubbing can trigger the release of inflammatory mediators, such as histamine, especially if irritation is due to allergies. Histamine, a natural body chemical, causes itching, swelling, and increased redness, intensifying symptoms and creating a cycle. This inflammatory response contributes to the red appearance.
Other Risks of Eye Rubbing
Beyond immediate redness, habitual or vigorous eye rubbing carries other risks for eye health. The friction can cause a corneal abrasion, a scratch on the cornea, the eye’s clear front surface. Corneal abrasions are often painful and can increase the eye’s susceptibility to infection by transferring bacteria.
Eye rubbing can also worsen existing conditions or lead to long-term problems. For instance, it can worsen dry eye symptoms by disturbing the eye’s protective tear film. It also increases the risk of eye infections, such as conjunctivitis (pink eye), by transferring germs. Chronic and aggressive eye rubbing is linked to keratoconus, a condition where the cornea thins and bulges, distorting vision. The mechanical stress can weaken the cornea’s collagen fibers, contributing to this deformation.
When to Seek Medical Attention for Red Eyes
While red eyes from rubbing often resolve on their own, certain symptoms warrant medical evaluation. Seek medical attention if redness is accompanied by sudden vision changes, like blurriness. Persistent eye pain, increased sensitivity to light, or halos around lights also require prompt medical assessment.
Other concerning symptoms include thick or pus-like discharge from the eye, or a severe headache, nausea, or fever alongside the red eye. If you suspect a foreign object is lodged in your eye, or if redness occurs after an injury, consult an eye care professional. If redness does not improve within a few days or worsens over time, medical consultation is advisable.