Eye crust why

During the day, blinking does the job of wiping away dust, old cells, extra mucus, and tears from your eyes. If you have allergies , you may notice extra eye crust during certain times of year. This still falls within the realm of a natural cause.

Blepharitis is the technical term for eyelid inflammation. Blepharitis has several possible causes, but one of the symptoms can be extra crusty discharge from your eyes during the night.

Eye redness or irritation, eyelids that stick together, or skin flakes at the base of your eyelid can indicate that you have blepharitis. Blepharitis typically only affects one eye at a time. Conjunctivitis pink eye is any kind of inflammation that impacts your conjunctiva, which is a thin membrane that lines part of your eye.

Conjunctivitis can be bacterial or viral. It can also be related to allergies or environmental factors. When you have pink eye, you may notice extra crust gathering in the corner of your eye. It may cause a watery discharge to build up in your eye and create a gritty feeling between your eyelids.

Sties are infected or inflamed oil glands or follicles in your eyelid. A stye can be painful, and it can also cause yellow mucus to build up in the corners of your eye. While we are awake, a tear film keeps our eyes moist and healthy.

The act of blinking flushes out normal mucus produced by the conjunctiva , oil from the meibomian glands , and other debris from the front surface of the eye. Because we do not blink during sleep, eye discharge collects in the corners of our eyes and along the eyelash line. This normal eye discharge can be hard and crusty or sticky and wet.

Finding crusty residue in the corners and along the lashes of your eyes when you wake up is normal. This matter can look yellow, hard and crusty, clear and sticky or thin and watery like tears.

However, some eye goop is not the typical sleep crust, and could signal that you have an eye infection or other condition. One condition that causes crusty eyes during waking hours is blepharitis , a common problem affecting the eyelid at the base of your eyelashes. Another common condition, dry eye , can make your eyes watery or sticky with stringy mucus.

If you have any of these problems with your eyes, call your ophthalmologist. There is usually nothing to worry about when it comes to eye crust. Some eye crust may be a result of an eye problem, such as a stye or pink eye.

If you are experiencing more eye crust than usual or are developing other uncomfortable or painful symptoms, call your eye doctor. Abnormal crusty eyes are usually the result of a fixable condition and are rarely caused by an eye disease. While you may feel inclined to rub your eyes, you really do not want to be poking your eyes with dirty hands. This can spread infection and lead to irritation if your eyes are not already infected or irritated. The first thing you should do before touching your eyes is to wash your hands with soap and water.

Then you can soak a washcloth in warm water and gently brush the crust away from your eyes. If you have a health concern that is causing your eye crust, such as a stye or pink eye, you will need to take other actions. Often, warm compresses can help speed up the recovery process.

No, most of the time eye discharge is not dangerous. Your eyes produce mucus to protect themselves. However, eye crust can be uncomfortable and feel scratchy. You should see a doctor if you are experiencing symptoms other than crust in your eyes. If you believe you may have an issue like a stye or pink eye, you should visit your eye doctor for help.

While you can treat styes and pink eye at home, your doctor may be able to give you medicine for the inflammation or eye drops for the discomfort. See a doctor if your symptoms worsen over time or if you develop any new symptoms.

Even if there is nothing wrong with your eyes, the doctor can still recommend over-the-counter products that can help alleviate some discomfort. Your eye doctor will take a look at your eyes, ask you some questions about your symptoms, and determine the best course of treatment for your eye crust. They may prescribe you eye drops or another type of medicine to help with your situation. Most of the time, eye crust is nothing to worry about.

It is totally normal. But talking to a doctor can give you peace of mind and the right treatment you need if you do have an eye problem. Sometimes eye discharge is a sign of a problem with your eye or eyelid.

One common condition that may cause crusting around your eyes or eyelids is blepharitis , or inflammation of the eyelids. Blepharitis may cause your eyelids to stick together when you wake up. Proper eyelid hygiene can help limit this condition, but blepharitis may require medical attention. If you notice you have more eye discharge than usual or it has changed color usually to yellow or green , check with your eye doctor.

This is especially important if you notice other signs, including:. The best method for wiping the sleep out of your eyes? Use a washcloth with warm water to first loosen and then remove it.