The Dangers of Eye Rubbing
January 14, 2022
Eye rubbing is very common, and most people do it without even thinking about it. There are many reasons you may be tempted to rub your eyes: eyestrain, dryness, irritation, allergies, even tiny specks of dirt in your eye. However, there are serious health risks that come with eye rubbing that you may not be aware of.
Why is Eye Rubbing Dangerous?
The effects of rubbing your eye can be scary, because rubbing too hard or too often can cause many problems. Rubbing can lead to eye pain, worse vision, and even dangerous infections. Your eye is very sensitive, and rubbing it can damage the delicate parts at the front of the eye. Rubbing breaks tiny blood vessels, which can make your eye bloodshot or cause dark circles under the eye. Rubbing takes germs that are on your hands and grinds them into your eye. If you have glaucoma, rubbing can make the condition worse by increasing your eye pressure. If you have keratoconus, rubbing can further aggravate the condition. All these problems can be avoided by addressing the issue that is causing the rubbing in the first place.
How Can a Doctor Help?
The best way to prevent eye rubbing is to address the root problem that is causing you to rub your eye. To do that, you will need to see an eye doctor. The doctor will examine your eyes to diagnose the problem and come up with a treatment plan to help you. If the rubbing is caused by poor vision, they can assess you to see if you need a new glasses or contact lens prescription. They can also recommend or prescribe eye drops to reduce irritation, dryness, or allergy symptoms.
Make an Appointment
If you feel like you rub your eyes and would like to stop, or you simply would like to have your eyes checked, schedule an appointment at Anh Nguyen Ophthalmology by calling (703) 534-4393 or requesting your appointment online.
