Written by Anne Jacobson, MD, MPH | Reviewed by Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH Published on March 24, 2022
Key takeaways:
- The sticky stuff in your eyes in the morning may be annoying. But most eye boogers are the body’s way of clearing out debris while you sleep.
- If your eye boogers are bothersome, there are some simple things you can do to treat them at home.
- When you feel like you’re wiping away more than sleep from your eyes, knowing what other symptoms to look for can help you keep your eyes healthy.
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Whether you jump right out of bed in the morning or can’t wake up until your second cup of coffee, your eyes have probably left you with a souvenir from the night before. You might know them as eye boogers, crusties, sleep, gunk, or goop, but almost all of us have them.
Read on to find out what causes normal eye boogers and how to know when something else could be going on.
What are eye boogers?
Morning eye boogers are a natural part of the way your body works. The technical name for those little crusties is rheum. Rheum is made up of:
- Cells from the inside of your eyelid and cornea
- Cells made by your immune system to fight infection
- Dust particles and bacteria that your body clears away while you sleep
Why do we get eye boogers?
Tears aren’t just for crying. A thin layer of tears covers your eyes and protects them. Tears are made by small glands above each eye, and they drain into small openings called tear ducts.
When you blink, tears move across the surface of your eyes to keep them clean. But when you sleep, you don’t blink. The mucus and debris that’s normally washed away by tears when you blink starts to collect in the corners of your eyes. This causes you to wake up with eye boogers.
What causes excessive eye boogers?
Most of the time, eye boogers are a normal part of waking up. They mean that your body is doing its job. But some conditions cause extra discharge, mucus, or irritation.
Dry eye
Some people don’t produce enough tears. Or their tears aren’t made of the right balance of substances to keep their eyes moist. This is called dry eye.
There are different causes of dry eye. If there aren’t enough tears to keep your eyes clear, you might have more stringy mucus that collects in the corners of your eyes.
Blocked tear duct
Blocked tear ducts can also lead to more mucus and discharge. When the flow of tears is disrupted, bacteria tends to build up.
Blocked tear ducts are especially common in infants. Eye boogers from blocked tear ducts usually improve during the first year of life. But babies should be examined for other sources of irritation and infection.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is when your eyelids become inflamed, irritated, or itchy. We all have bacteria that lives on our skin. But sometimes, there are too many bacteria on the part of the eyelid where your eyelashes grow. It can happen with certain skin conditions or allergies.
Symptoms of blepharitis include irritation, redness, and crusty flakes along the eyelid.
Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
Conjunctivitis is often called “pink eye” because the eye can turn red or pink and feel irritated. It can be caused by infections, allergies, or chemical irritation.
Get your eyes checked by a healthcare provider if you have discharge that lasts throughout the day, especially if your eyes are red or painful.
When to see a professional for eye mucus
Morning crusties are usually nothing to worry about. But there are some symptoms that should prompt a visit to a healthcare provider, including:
- A change in your vision
- Discharge that is yellow, green, or more than usual
- Redness, pain, or feeling like there is something in your eye
- Sensitivity to light
- Having a hard time opening your eyes because of swelling or sticky discharge
How to get rid of eye boogers at home
The safest and easiest way to get rid of the sleep in your eyes is to gently wash it away with warm water and a clean washcloth. A gentle shampoo or facial cleanser can help clear away bacteria that collects along your eyelids.
Artificial tears help many people with dry eyes. But you might need to see a healthcare provider if your symptoms are severe or if artificial tears don’t help.
If you’re someone who has a lot of eye boogers and you constantly feel the need to get rid of them throughout the day, you could be causing more irritation to your eyes. Mucus fishing syndrome is when your eyes produce more mucus because of regular poking and prodding to get rid of the stuff that collects in the corners of your eyes. Check in with your healthcare provider if your eye boogers are especially bothersome.
The bottom line
Eye boogers are a regular part of life for most of us. Like most things in the body, some of us will experience them more than others. If they seem to be getting worse or you have other symptoms that are affecting your eyes, it may be time to have a healthcare provider take a look. But most of the time, you can safely clear the sleep out of your eyes as part of your morning routine.
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