Dry Eyes, Itchiness, and Sleep Gunk...Oh, My!

Sleep Crust:

• Is normal if: you wake up each morning with a bit of “sleep crust” each morning.
• Is NOT normal if: you clear it multiple times a day, you have trouble opening your eyes first thing in the morning (because they feel stuck closed), or if the discharge is yellow or green.

If your discharge isn’t normal, it’s worthwhile seeing an ophthalmologist to see if it’s caused by bacterial conjunctivitis, chronic blepharitis, chronic dry eye, or allergic conjunctivitis.

Everyone has a bit of “gunk” in their eyes each morning because the eyes consistently shed mucus, oils, and exfoliated skin cells. During the day, blinking and natural tears generally clear it without notice. During the night, two factors make it build up: gravity plus not blinking regularly.

For normal sleep crust, skip the cartoon treatment (rubbing eyes with your hands), and use a clean washcloth soaked in warm water. Hands carry germs and bacteria, which can irritate the eye further!

In many cases, people with chronic buildup from non-bacterial causes can benefit from a daily cleaning regimen. While some home remedies include eye drops and baby shampoo, we generally don’t recommend either as in many cases they’re addressing the symptom rather than the underlying cause.

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Itchy Eyes:

• Are normal if: you’ve come in contact with dust, smoke, or other foreign irritants.
• Are NOT normal otherwise: Environmental allergies are the most common cause of chronic itchy eye, but there can be other medical conditions like blepharitis that a professional can diagnose and help you treat.

Similar to dry eyes, you want to protect your eyes from environmental factors to prevent itch. One key piece of advice: do NOT rub your eyes. It’s one of the hardest things to stick to, but it will help prevent further irritation. If you’re regularly experiencing itchy eyes, check in with a professional who can assess the reason and recommend the best course forward!

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