Specsavers expert explains serious reason you shouldn’t rub your eyes after waking up or feeling tired
An eye expert has explained the severe reason why we should not rub our eyes like our parents used to warn us not to when growing up, as doing so could leave you with serious problems.
We've all been in that situation before where nothing feels better than giving the old peepers a little massage.
Any late night or early morning can be the direct cause or even too big of a lunch where all you want to do is nap afterwards. Not just me, right?
Well, apparently if we do this - and do it too much - we're leaving ourselves open to serious harm.
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And that is harm that is worse if you suffer from other common health conditions as well, snowballing your problems into a big old pile of pain.
Optometrist Daibhéid McHugh works for Specsavers and explained exactly why it can be so bad for you if you give your eyes a rub.
Posting to social media, McHugh explained on TikTok that while there's nothing too wrong with a gentle rub every now and then 'to clear things up', anything more that that can leave you needing to do to see a doctor.
He says: "Have you ever rubbed your eyes after waking up? Have you ever had someone tell you not to rub your eyes?
"It's perfectly normal from time to time, if you eyes do feel a bit gritty, a bit blurry, a bit irritated, to just give them a gentle rub to clear things up."
McHugh went on: "Too much rubbing for too long or too hard, that can cause problems.
"From simple things like a cornel scratch, to an eye infection, or in very severe cases, even retinal detachment."
A detached retina is a really serious eye condition where the back of your eye - the retina - becomes loose.
"It needs to be treated quickly to stop it permanently affecting your sight," the NHS says.
Symptoms of a detached retina include:
- floaters (dots and lines) or flashes of light in your eye
- a dark 'curtain' or shadow in your vision
- changes to your eyesight, such as blurred vision
Should doctors be able to reattach your retina, you will need to spend a good few weeks recovering after surgery. It usually takes up to six weeks to recover, with recovery in that time including having blurry vision as well as sore and red eyes.
The NHS advises you don't drive and avoid flying, while time off work may also be required.
On top of this, Daibhéid McHugh, who works for Specsavers, said a certain group of people may also get problems as a result of rubbing.
"A group of people who are very prone to itchy eyes are hay fever sufferers," he says.
"The rubbing can cause the mast cells [white blood cells that support your immune system] to break and can cause release of more histamine, which can actually exacerbate the situation.
"There's also evidence to suggest that people with eczema or asthma, or any atopic conditions, that rubbing their eyes can cause keratoconus, which can cause the cornea to thin and their vision to change quite substantially as well.
"Your parents were right, don't rub your eyes. If you are having problems with itchy eyes is book an appointment in your local Specsavers."
Tom Earnshaw