More than a simple idiom, “sleep in the eyes” refers to the buildup of deposits in the corners of the eyes.
It is most noticeable on waking up in the morning, and the technical term for “sleep in the eyes” is “rheum.”
While sleep in the corners of your eyes is normal, it can also at times be associated with several medical ailments.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the common causes of both normal and abnormal eye discharge.
By contrast, eye discharge is a term usually used for problems with this substance produced by the eyes.
Generally speaking, other symptoms- as well as the consistency and color of the eye discharge- will indicate if there is a medical issue that needs to be treated.
Sleep in the eyes, or rheum, is actually the product of a number of substances produced by the eyes.
It is made up of mucus, oil, and waste products that are normally washed away by your tears when you blink.
It also contains cells that the eye has shed. Of course, we don’t blink in our sleep, and so these waste products tend to build up.
We also produce rheum during the daytime, but it is much less noticeable because when we blink, our tears moisten our eyes and wash away these impurities. The salt in our tears has disinfectant properties as well.
Cleaning sleep from your eyes can be an important part of your daily grooming routine.
One effective way to do this is by using warm water to splash your face, as the warmth can help to loosen any sleep or debris that may have accumulated in your eyes overnight.
You can also try using a gentle eye cleanser or makeup remover to help dissolve and remove any makeup or impurities that may be present. It can also be helpful to use a soft, clean cloth or cotton pads to gently wipe away any remaining residue.
Remember to be gentle and avoid rubbing your eyes too hard, as this can irritate the delicate skin around your eyes and cause redness or puffiness.
And of course, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands before you begin to clean your eyes to prevent transmitting infection from your hands to your eyes.
While “sleep in your eyes” is normal and usually nothing to be worried about, there can sometimes be other causes of eye discharge that may warrant more medical attention.
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the white of the eye.
It causes scratchy irritation, and you may wake with a crusty discharge around your eyes. The eyes may also produce creamy or green-colored mucus.
If the cause of the conjunctivitis is viral, the discharge will most likely be clear or light in color. With bacterial conjunctivitis, the discharge will be thicker, stickier, and yellow or green.
Finally, if the discharge is caused by allergies, it will likely be watery.
There are several other types of infections such as ocular herpes and fungal conditions that can cause discharge from the eyes.
Infection can be difficult to diagnose yourself, so you should see a doctor if you have symptoms that concern you.
So far, we have discussed conditions affecting the eyes themselves, but did you know that you can also get an inflammation of the eyelids?
Called blepharitis, this often stems from an imbalance in the composition of the oil and water that the meibomian glands in the inner eyelids produce.
Blepharitis can cause discharge, crusts around the eyes, and pain or irritation.
Styes are caused by completely-blocked meibomian glands.
Symptoms of styes include a white lump on the rim of your eyelid. The eyelid may be red and painful, and you may have a yellow discharge from the eye as well.
Dry eye results when the eyes don't produce enough tears to keep the eyes moist. Dry eyes make the eyes more prone to infection, as tears are what typically remove waste products and wash away impurities.
Dry eyes can be triggered by autoimmune conditions or meibomian gland problems.
The eyes will look red, and there may or may not be a watery discharge as the eyes try to compensate for the lack of tears. Sometimes the patient will experience blurred vision as well.
Contact lens wearers tend to have increased discharge from the eyes as a consequence of irritation from the lenses.
It is also possible to get an infection if your contact lens solution is no longer sterile, or if you accidentally transfer bacteria onto the lenses during the cleaning process.
Eye injuries can involve anything that touches the eye, or gets stuck in the area. Even small particles such as dirt can cause quite a lot of damage.
The eyes will water considerably when it is suffering from injury. This is a protective mechanism, as the eye attempts to flush out the cause of irritation or injury.
A corneal ulcer is a lesion on the cornea (the front surface of the eye). This is one of the most serious of the complaints discussed here because of its potential to cause permanent vision loss.
The problem is that some of the symptoms such as pain, redness, discharge, and swollen eyelids are indistinguishable from more minor infections. However, with corneal ulcers, the eye discharge is prolific.
Corneal ulcers can be caused by a foreign body in the eye, contact lens irritation, ocular herpes, autoimmune conditions, or allergies.
Dacryocystitis is caused by blocked tear ducts. Symptoms include a painful lump under the inner eyelid, pain, redness, blurred vision and either a sticky or clear discharge.
You should see a doctor immediately if you experience the following:
If you decide that medical advice is necessary, the recommended treatment will depend on the cause of the eye discharge.
Depending on the cause, an infection may require antibiotics, antiviral, or even antifungal drops. Antihistamines are indicated in the case of allergies for dry eyes, and sometimes for blepharitis as well.
Click here to see a summary of some of the main home remedies.
You can try the following practices at home as part of your hygiene routine and to help you work out what might be wrong with your eyes if you are experiencing a large amount of eye discharge:
Some sleep in the eyes or discharge from the eyes is normal. It is the body’s way of cleaning the eyes by removing waste substances.
There are a number of things that you can do at home to treat minor eye complaints, such as using appropriate eye drops or applying hot compresses.
However, you should always call a medical professional if symptoms worsen, or if you’re really worried about the amount of discharge you’re experiencing!
