If you are tired, have been staring at a computer screen all day, have been cutting onions or just have bad allergies, sometimes the best feeling is to give your eyes a strong rub. It makes sense too. Studies have shown that rubbing the eyes can cause your heart to slow and to help you relax. However, rubbing your eyes is not a good habit to form as it can lead to many more serious issues. Read on to find out what.
By rubbing your eyes you may feel more awake but you also risk eye disease. If you rub your eye too strongly or too often you could weaken the cornea significantly. Over time this could reach such a state that you would need a corneal transplant. You could also accidentally scratch your cornea causing a lot more pain than whatever reason caused you to rub your eyes initially. While this should get better over a few days it could lead to an ulcer and further complications.
Today many people are nearsighted and it has been shown that rubbing your eyes only makes the condition worse. The eyes are not the only thing at risk. By rubbing your eyes you may cause your eyelids to lose their elastic nature. Giving you one lazy eyelid for life. At the very minimum rubbing your eyes too hard will cause blood vessels to burst to give you that bloodshot look that nobody wants.
The main risk when rubbing your eyes is infection. Your hands are never totally clean and by rubbing your eyes you are likely putting more dirt and bacteria in them. While it is a good idea to just stop rubbing your eyes, we know that can be easier said than done. If you really have to rub your eyes, then take a light approach. Tread lightly, your eyesight may depend on it.