Evie Summers
Waking up with sleep in your eyes, or rheum, is a result of the eye's natural cleaning process. Throughout the day, the eye produces mucus, which, along with tears, old skin cells, and environmental debris, is washed away through blinking. While we sleep, the mucus and other debris accumulate in the corners of our eyes, forming a crusty substance. While sleep in your eyes is generally harmless, excessive eye discharge can be a sign of underlying issues, such as eye infections, allergies, or dry eyes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Medical term | Rheum |
| Composition | Mucus, oil, skin cells, tears, and other debris |
| Consistency | Wet and sticky or dry and crusty |
| Function | Removes waste products, keeps eyes moist, and protects them from debris |
| Cause of excess | Contact lens-related eye infection, contact lens discomfort, eye injury, corneal ulcer, eye allergies, dry eyes, or other infections |
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What You'll Learn
- Eye discharge, or 'sleep', is a combination of mucus, oil, skin cells and other debris
- It can be wet and sticky or dry and crusty, depending on how much liquid has evaporated
- A small amount of eye discharge is harmless, but changes in colour, frequency, consistency and amount may require medical attention
- Contact lenses can cause an increase in eye discharge
- Blinking helps the oily meibum and water tears mix together to form an emulsion called tear film
Eye discharge, or 'sleep', is a combination of mucus, oil, skin cells and other debris
Eye discharge, or sleep in your eyes, is a combination of mucus, oil, skin cells, and other debris. This gunk, also known as rheum, sleep crust, eye boogers, or eye gunk, is a natural and healthy part of eye function. It is produced by the eye to clean itself, and it helps to remove waste products and other harmful debris from the tear film and the front surface of the eyes.
During the day, blinking helps to remove this discharge, but at night, it builds up in the corners of the eyes, becoming crusty when it dries. The amount of sleep in your eyes can vary depending on factors such as allergies or dryness. While a small amount of eye discharge is normal, an excess amount of mucus or discharge with an unusual colour or texture can be a sign of an eye infection, inflammation, or other health condition.
For example, yellow or green eye discharge can indicate bacterial conjunctivitis, a common form of pink eye. Other eye infections, such as corneal ulcers or styes, can also cause an increase in eye discharge. In addition, contact lens wearers may experience more eye discharge due to lens-related eye infections, discomfort, or rubbing of the eyes. Foreign bodies in the eye, such as dirt or chemical substances, can also lead to watery discharge as a protective response.
If you notice changes in the colour, frequency, consistency, or amount of eye discharge, it is recommended to consult an eye doctor. They can prescribe treatments such as antibiotic or antiviral eye drops and ointments to address eye infections. To manage eye discharge, it is important to refrain from touching or rubbing your eyes to prevent the onset or spread of infections. Warm compresses can also help relieve eye discomfort and remove eye gunk.
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It can be wet and sticky or dry and crusty, depending on how much liquid has evaporated
The "sleep" in your eyes, or eye discharge, is a combination of mucus, oil, skin cells, and other debris that accumulates in the corner of your eyes while you sleep. It is the result of your eye's natural cleaning process, which helps to remove waste products, keep the eyes moist, and protect them from debris.
The texture of this eye discharge can vary, depending on the amount of liquid that has evaporated from it. If there is still a significant amount of liquid present, the discharge will be wet and sticky. On the other hand, if most of the liquid has evaporated, it will leave behind a dry and crusty residue. This crusty material is what is commonly referred to as "sleep crust", "eye gunk", or "eye boogers".
While a small amount of eye discharge is generally harmless, it is important to be aware of any changes in its colour, frequency, consistency, or amount, as this could indicate an underlying issue. For example, an eye infection may cause an increase in eye discharge, resulting in a build-up of sticky or crusty material. In some cases, this may be accompanied by other symptoms such as itching, swollen eyelids, or blurred vision.
To properly manage eye discharge, it is recommended to practice good hygiene. This includes washing your hands before and after touching your eyes, removing eye makeup before sleep, and using a warm washcloth to gently wipe away any discharge. If you experience excessive or unusual eye discharge, it is advisable to consult an eye doctor to rule out any potential eye conditions.
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A small amount of eye discharge is harmless, but changes in colour, frequency, consistency and amount may require medical attention
"Sleep" in your eyes, or eye discharge, is a combination of mucus, oil, skin cells, and other debris that accumulates in the corner of your eye while you sleep. This is a normal and natural process, and a small amount of eye discharge is harmless. However, if you notice changes in colour, frequency, consistency, or amount, it may be a cause for concern and you should consult an eye doctor.
Eye discharge is a product of your eye cleaning itself, and it helps to remove waste products, keep the eyes moist, and protect them from debris. During the day, blinking washes away protective mucus. However, when we sleep, we don't blink as frequently, and the mucus collects into a substance called rheum, which can become crusty. While a small amount of rheum is normal, excessive eye discharge can be a sign of underlying problems, such as inflammation, infection, or allergies.
Infections such as conjunctivitis, blepharitis, or a corneal ulcer can cause abnormal eye discharge. If you notice an unusual colour or texture to your eye discharge, or if you experience other symptoms such as eye itching, swollen eyelids, eyelid crusting, or blurred vision, it is important to seek medical advice. Your eye care practitioner may prescribe antibiotic or antiviral eye drops and ointments to treat the infection.
Allergies can also cause excessive eye discharge, and over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops and decongestants may help relieve symptoms. Additionally, if you wear contact lenses, they may be a source of irritation and infection, leading to increased eye discharge. In such cases, removing your contact lenses and consulting an eye doctor is recommended.
While a small amount of eye discharge is typically harmless, it is important to pay attention to any changes in its characteristics and seek medical advice if you have concerns.
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Contact lenses can cause an increase in eye discharge
"Sleep" in your eyes, or eye discharge, is a combination of mucus, oil, skin cells, and other debris that accumulates in the corner of your eye while you sleep. While a small amount of eye discharge is harmless, an increase in eye discharge when wearing contact lenses could indicate a potentially serious eye condition.
Contact lenses are medical devices, and failure to wear, clean, and store them as directed can increase the risk of eye infections, such as microbial keratitis. Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea, which can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites that invade the cornea when contact lenses are worn for too long or are not cared for correctly. Microbial keratitis is a serious type of eye infection that can lead to blindness or the need for a corneal transplant in severe cases.
Contact lens wear can also lead to dry eye symptoms, which can result in lens discomfort and may cause the wearer to discontinue lens use. Dry eye symptoms can be caused by a disruption of meibomium gland function (meibomitis), where keratinized oil plugs the glands, reducing lubrication. Low humidity can also contribute to dry eye symptoms by causing the tear film to dry on the lens, leading to mechanical irritation of the lid, cornea, and surrounding tissues.
If you experience an increase in eye discharge when wearing contact lenses, it is recommended to remove the lenses and consult an eye doctor to rule out any serious eye conditions.
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Blinking helps the oily meibum and water tears mix together to form an emulsion called tear film
The human eye is a fascinating organ, and one of its many functions is the production of tears. These tears are made up of a fine balance of oil, water, mucus, and antibodies, which together form a tear film. This tear film coats our eyes and is essential for eye health. It protects the eyes from the environment, lubricates the ocular surface, maintains a smooth surface for light refraction, and preserves the health of the conjunctiva and the avascular cornea.
The tear film is composed of three layers: an outer oily or lipid layer, a middle aqueous layer, and a deep hydrophilic mucin layer. The outer oily layer is made up of meibum, a substance produced by the meibomian glands, which helps to prevent our tears from constantly spilling out of our eyes. This outer layer also includes oils from the Zeis glands. The middle layer is primarily water-based and is produced by the lacrimal glands, with small contributions from conjunctival epithelia and the cornea. This layer also contains proteins and electrolytes. The inner layer is a mucin layer, produced by goblet cells and conjunctival epithelial cells, with some contribution from the corneal epithelium.
Blinking plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of the tear film. With each blink, secreted tear fluid is distributed and mixed with the tear film. Blinking helps the oily meibum and water tears mix together to form an emulsion called the tear film. This emulsion is important because if left too long without blinking, the oil and water will separate, and the cornea could be exposed to air. This can lead to discomfort and, in chronic cases, a condition known as "dry eye" or keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Blinking also helps remove any foreign substances, such as mucus, dirt, or dust, from the eyes.
During sleep, we do not blink, and this is why we often wake up with "sleep" or "rheum" in the corners of our eyes. This eye discharge is a combination of mucus, oil, skin cells, and other debris that accumulates while we sleep. It is a natural process and usually harmless, but excessive discharge or changes in color, consistency, or amount may indicate an eye infection or other eye condition.
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Frequently asked questions
Sleep in your eyes, or eye gunk, is a combination of mucus, oil, skin cells and other debris that accumulates in the corner of your eye while you sleep.
Sleep in your eyes is a normal and natural process that happens while you sleep, so it does not necessarily mean that you slept well or poorly.
Abnormal eye discharge may be indicated by changes in colour, texture, or amount. It may also be accompanied by other symptoms such as eye itching, swollen eyelids, eyelid crusting, blurred vision, or light sensitivity.
If you notice any abnormalities in your eye discharge, it is best to consult an eye doctor. They may prescribe antibiotic or antiviral eye drops and ointments or recommend over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops and decongestants.
