It’s second nature to rub or scratch at an itch, especially when it’s your eyes. Whether you are waking up in the morning or dealing with pesky eye allergies, rubbing your eyes can have a lasting impact on your vision health. Here’s why you should think twice before rubbing your peepers.
Dirty Hands
Unless you just finished scrubbing up for surgery, your hands are most likely dirty. Rubbing your eyes puts your eyes in direct contact with the germs on your hands. You could potentially give yourself pink eye, or some other type of infection. So make sure to wash your hands if you are getting anywhere close to your eyes.
Foreign Objects
Having something caught in your eye is a painful experience, but rubbing your eye can make matters worse. Rubbing your eye can cause the debris in your eye to further scratch your cornea, which could lead to lasting vision problems. If something is in your eye, avoid rubbing and seek medical help.
Cumulative Effects
Rubbing your eyes aggressively over the course of time can have a lasting impact on your eyes. Rubbing can break apart the blood vessels around your eyes, making the dark circles around your eye more visible. Aggressive rubbing can also increase the pressure in your eyes – weakening your cornea, which can lead to the eye condition, keratoconus.
The Bottom Line
Don’t panic. It’s okay to gently rub your eyes from time to time. Just remember to always have clean hands and a gentle touch when you are going anywhere near your eye. Your eyes are extremely powerful yet delicate, so always handle them with care.