Eye pulling, rubbing, or poking is a common physical behavior, ranging from an unconscious habit to a symptom of an underlying condition. This action involves applying pressure or friction to the delicate ocular area, often to find relief or sensory input. While frequently observed in infants and young children as they explore their environment or signal tiredness, it can occur in older individuals for various reasons. Understanding the specific cause is the first step in determining whether the action is harmless or requires professional medical evaluation. This article explores the most benign reasons, the medical conditions that prompt it, and its role as a self-stimulatory behavior.
Everyday Reasons for Eye Pulling
The most frequent and least concerning reason for eye pulling or rubbing is fatigue. When a person, especially a child, is tired, the eyes may feel strained or dry, prompting an instinctive rubbing action to stimulate tear production and temporarily relieve discomfort. This behavior is a non-verbal cue that the body requires rest and often ceases naturally once the individual falls asleep. Infants may rub their eyes as a self-soothing mechanism or as part of normal sensory exploration, finding the pressure comforting. Temporary physical irritation, such as a stray eyelash, dust, or mild dryness from environmental factors, can also trigger a brief rubbing episode to clear the foreign object or moisten the surface.
Underlying Medical Conditions
Eye pulling can be a reflexive response to genuine ocular discomfort caused by specific medical conditions. Allergic conjunctivitis, an inflammatory reaction to allergens like pollen or pet dander, creates intense itching that leads to persistent rubbing. Infectious conjunctivitis (pink eye) also causes significant irritation, often accompanied by redness, swelling, and a watery or sticky discharge. Chronic dry eye syndrome causes the eye surface to feel gritty and uncomfortable, leading to frequent rubbing for temporary relief. Uncorrected refractive errors, such as hyperopia or myopia, cause excessive eye strain as the person attempts to focus clearly, and this visual fatigue may manifest as a need to rub the eyes.
When Eye Pulling is Self-Stimulatory
Eye poking or pressing can be a form of self-stimulatory behavior, often called “stimming,” which is distinct from rubbing for comfort or irritation relief. This behavior is typically repetitive and intentional, performed to provide sensory input. Applying pressure to the eyeball mechanically stimulates the retina’s photoreceptor cells, generating internal visual sensations called phosphenes. Phosphenes are flashes or bursts of light seen without an external source, and the deep pressure input can also be a calming sensation for individuals with sensory processing differences, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or significant visual impairment. When this behavior is persistent and performed for internal stimulation, it carries a higher risk of causing physical damage to the delicate structures of the eye.
Knowing When to Consult a Doctor
While most instances of eye rubbing are linked to fatigue and resolve on their own, certain “red flag” symptoms warrant a prompt professional consultation with a pediatrician or an ophthalmologist. Immediate attention is necessary if the eye pulling is accompanied by a sudden onset of vision changes, such as blurring, loss of vision, or the appearance of new floaters or flashes of light, as these can signal a serious condition like retinal detachment. Other clear indicators of a problem include persistent redness, swelling around the eye, the presence of a colored discharge, or increased sensitivity to light (photophobia). If the behavior is so frequent or aggressive that it causes physical damage to the surrounding skin or interferes significantly with daily activities, a medical evaluation is required. Any persistent, symptomatic, or repetitive eye-pulling behavior lasting more than a few days suggests a need for assessment to identify and treat an underlying infection, allergy, or sensory issue.