Why Do We Wake Up with Eye Crusties ?

Waking up with crusty residue at the corners of your eyes is a common and usually benign phenomenon. Known as eye gunk, sleep dust, or scientifically termed rheum, these crusts form mainly during shut-eye, leaving us wondering why do we wake up with eye boogers ? Let’s delve into this mundane yet intriguing topic.

Deciphering Morning Crust: understanding Its Formation

What is Eye Rheum ?

The crust that collects in the corners of our eyes overnight, more formally known as rheum, accumulates due to a combination of mucus, dead skin cells, oil, dust particles, and bacteria. This substance dries out while we are asleep, forming the noticeable deposits we often discover upon waking.

The Role of Blinking

Rheum only becomes prominent after a night’s sleep because blinking plays a crucial role in its formation. Blinking serves not only to moisten and protect our eyes but also to remove these residues. The absence of blinking during sleep allows for the build-up and eventual drying out of these substances.

As we now understand how eye crust forms overnight let’s explore why this happens primarily when we are asleep.

Nocturnal Secretions: why Mainly at Night ?

The Physiology of Sleep

During sleep, various physiological changes occur in our bodies. Among them is an increase in tear secretion and a decrease in eyelid blinking rate. Consequently, more tears stagnate on the surface of the eye providing an ideal environment for rheum accumulation.

Blinking: lubrication and Cleaning Mechanism

In contrast to sleep state, during waking hours repeated eye blinking helps to lubricate the eyes and remove debris, preventing substantial rheum accumulation.

With this knowledge of why we produce more eye crust in our sleep, let’s discuss how much is normal and when it might be a cause for concern.

Quantity and Normality: evaluating Morning Eye Mucus

Normal vs Abnormal Rheum Quantity

While waking up with some degree of eye crust is common, an excessive or persistent increase could indicate a problem. Green or yellowish crusts might be signs of eye infection or disease.

The Color and Consistency Conundrum

Eye discharge color can provide clues about potential medical conditions. Dull white or transparent rheum is generally normal, while green or yellow deposits are often indicators of infection.

Understanding what constitutes normal eye secretion quantity allows us to identify potentially problematic signs. Let’s look at how to keep our eyes clean and healthy.

Eye Hygiene: tips for Gentle Cleaning

Cleaning Your Eyes Safely

To avoid infections, it is recommended to clean your eyes and eyelids gently with physiological saline solution or warm water with mild soap.

Effective Washing Techniques

• Avoid rubbing your eyes harshly which can irritate them.
• Rinse with a gentle stream of water or use a wet washcloth.
• Clean from the inside (near the nose) outwards to prevent pushing mucus back into the eye.

The emphasis on hygiene brings us to when these routine practices might not be enough, indicating it’s time to seek professional help.

Warning Signs: when to Consult for Excessive Crust ?

Identifying Abnormal Symptoms

Unusual symptoms accompanying the crust, such as persistent inflammation, pain or redness should not be ignored. The presence of excessive green or yellow discharge also calls for a medical appointment.

Medical Interventions

If your crust is caused by allergies, antihistamines and cortisone-based eye drops may help alleviate symptoms. For persistent inflammation or suspected infections, anti-inflammatories or antibiotics may be necessary.

As we have traversed through the curiosities of morning eye crust formation to its implications on health, it’s time to sum up what we have learned.

In summary, waking up with crusty corners of our eyes is a normal part of human physiology due to decreased blinking and increased tear secretion during sleep. However, an increase in quantity or changes in color and consistency could signal underlying health issues that need medical attention. By recognizing normal versus abnormal symptoms and maintaining good eye hygiene, we can ensure optimal eye health while demystifying the mystery of morning eye crust.