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Is rubbing your eyes bad for you? 2 eye specialists explain what’s behind the urge to rub and what to do about it
Allergic conjunctivitis accounts for nearly 50% of itching cases, and specialists say rubbing can trigger infections and corneal damage.
- Eye rubbing risks serious conditions including keratoconus, where the cornea becomes progressively thinner and cone-shaped, and subconjunctival hemorrhage, a bruise on the eye surface.
- Allergic conjunctivitis accounts for nearly 50% of itching cases, causing an inflammatory reaction of the conjunctiva that triggers the urge to rub as the body reacts to allergens.
- Artificial tears rinse out allergens, and cooling them in the refrigerator provides relief; antihistamine or mast cell stabilizer drops block inflammatory chemicals, while combination drops target both mechanisms.
- Avoid eye drops that advertise "get the red out" due to potential side effects; wash hands frequently to prevent spreading viral conjunctivitis, a highly contagious infection.
- If the urge to rub persists despite cool compresses or allergy drops, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor; symptoms typically resolve in one to two weeks.
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Is rubbing your eyes bad for you? 2 eye specialists explain what’s behind the urge to rub and what to do about it
Eye rubbing may feel good, but it comes with risks. klebercordeiro/iStock via Getty Images PlusYou know the feeling – the itchy eye that is just begging to be scratched. Before you start rubbing your eyes, you may want to think twice about the potential consequences. While eye rubbing may seem harmless, people who rub their eyes are at risk of infections or damage to their cornea. Fortunately, there are a number of common causes of itchy eyes th…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources27
Leaning Left3Leaning Right6Center15Last UpdatedBias Distribution62% Center
Bias Distribution
- 62% of the sources are Center
62% Center
13%
C 62%
R 25%
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