Why is rubbing your eyes bad for you

Why Do We Rub Our Eyes?

Some experts suggest eye allergies and dry eyes lead to eye rubbing. Now, what is dry eye? Well, the absence of enough tears in your eyes leads to dry eyes. It paves the way toward itching and burning. Some of the other causes are:

• Sleep disturbances or insomnia

• Contact lens irritation

• Vision issues that need correction

• The wrong vision prescription

• Blepharitis (infected or irritated eyelids, styes)

• Having a cold or flu

• Eye infections like pink eye or conjunctivitis

Why’s it bad?

·         Keratoconus

A study says that continuous rubbing of your eyes can cause thinning of the corneal tissue, which weakens the cornea and pushes it forward to become more conical. Also referred to as Keratoconus- it is a serious problem that distorts your vision. Under such situations, you need to opt for specialised contact lenses like scleral lenses or a corneal transplant.

·         Foreign Objects Inside Your Eyes

Sometimes, foreign particles tend to enter our eyes. That’s when we end up rubbing our eyes to remove the particle. Rubbing the object might scratch your cornea- it is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. You can opt for artificial tears and saline solution to get rid of the particles.

·         Dirty Hands

Touching and rubbing your eyes with dirty hands is harmful- bacteria and germs might enter your eyes. In no time, you can get exposed to conjunctivitis. Ensure to wash your hands with water and soap- it is a hygienic practice that keeps several diseases at bay.

·         Pre-existing Eye Conditions

Some people deal with certain pre-existing eye conditions like glaucoma or progressive myopia. Rubbing your eyes in these kinds of situations can worsen your eyesight. Avoid permanent vision loss or nerve damage by appearing for an eye test.

·         Dark Circles

Eye rubbing causes tiny blood vessels to break, which in turn causes bloodshot eyes (red eyes) and dark circles under the eyes. One usually tries to cover them with makeup for a better appeal.