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Eye discharge: What causes

"sleep" in your eyes?
By Aimee Rodrigues; reviewed by Pamela Miller, OD,
FAAO, JD, FNAP

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What is eye discharge?

Eye discharge, or "sleep" in your eyes, is a
combination of mucus, oil, skin cells and other
debris that accumulates in the corner of your eye
while you sleep. It can be wet and sticky or dry and
crusty, depending on how much of the liquid in the
discharge has evaporated.

Other slang terms used to describe eye discharge

include eye mattering, eye boogers, eye gunk, eye
pus and goopy eyes.

Sometimes called "rheum," eye discharge has a

protective function, removing waste products and
potentially harmful debris from the tear film and the
front surface of your eyes.

Your eyes produce mucus throughout the day, but

a continuous thin film of tears bathes your eyes
when you blink, flushing out the rheum before it
hardens in your eyes.

When you're asleep — and not blinking — eye

discharge collects and crusts in the corners of your
eyes and sometimes along the lash line, hence the
term "sleep" in your eyes.

Some sleep in your eyes upon waking is normal,

but excessive eye discharge, especially if it's green
or yellow in color and accompanied by blurry
vision, light sensitivity or eye pain, can indicate a
serious eye infection or eye disease and should be
promptly examined by your eye doctor.

Got gunk in your eye?

Eye discharge is most likely nothing to worry about. But

if it's sudden or excessive and you're concerned, book
an appointment with an eye doctor today.

It could merely be allergies or dry eyes. But it could

also be conjunctivitis (pink eye) or some other type of
infection. An eye doctor can help you discern what's
causing that gunk... and help you get rid of it.

Where does eye mucus

come from?
Eye discharge (rheum) is a function of your tear
film and a necessary component of good eye
health. It primarily consists of thin, watery mucus
produced by the conjunctiva (called mucin), and
meibum — an oily substance secreted by the
meibomian glands which helps keep your eyes
lubricated between blinks.

Causes of eye
discharge
Sleep in your eyes usually isn't cause for alarm, but
if you notice a difference in consistency, color and
quantity of eye gunk, it could indicate an eye
infection or disease.

Common eye conditions associated with abnormal

eye discharge include:

Conjunctivitis
Eye discharge is a common symptom of
conjunctivitis (pink eye), an inflammation of the
conjunctiva — the thin membrane that lines the
"white" of the eye (sclera) and the inner surface of
the eyelids.

Thick, yellow eye discharge can be caused by an eye

infection.

In addition to itchy, gritty, irritated and red eyes,

conjunctivitis typically is accompanied by white,
yellow or green eye mucus which can form a crust
along the lash line while you sleep.

In some cases, eyelid crusting can be so severe

that it temporarily seals your eye shut.

There are three types of pink eye: viral, bacterial

and allergic.

Viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious and is

caused by a virus such as the common cold or
herpes simplex virus. Eye discharge associated
with viral pink eye typically is clear and watery, but
may include a white or light yellow mucus
component.

Bacterial conjunctivitis, as the name indicates, is

caused by bacterial infection and can be sight-
threatening if not treated promptly. Eye discharge is
usually thicker and more pus-like (purulent) in
consistency than viral pink eye, and is commonly
yellow, green or even gray. Often, the sticky
mattering will cause your eyelids to feel completely
glued shut upon waking in the morning.

Allergic conjunctivitis is triggered by allergens —

pollen, dander, dust and other common irritants
that cause eye allergies. It also can be caused by
an allergic reaction to chemical pollutants, makeup,
contact lens solutions, and eye drops. Eye
discharge associated with allergic conjunctivitis is
typically watery.

Unlike viral and bacterial pink eye, allergic

conjunctivitis is not contagious and always affects
both eyes.

Other eye infections

In addition to conjunctivitis, there are many eye
infections that cause abnormal eye discharge.
These include: eye herpes (a recurrent viral eye
infection), fungal keratitis (a rare but serious
inflammation of the cornea) and Acanthamoeba
keratitis (a potentially blinding infection typically
caused by poor contact lens hygiene or swimming
while wearing contacts).

Discharge from an eye infection varies

considerably — it could be clear and watery or
thick, green and sticky — so make sure you see
your eye doctor promptly for an accurate diagnosis
and treatment.

Blepharitis
A chronic disorder of the eyelids, blepharitis
describes either inflammation of the eyelash hair
follicles or abnormal oil production from the
meibomian glands at the inner edge of the eyelids.
A related condition called Meibomian gland
dysfunction (MGD) can cause foamy eye
discharge, eyelid crusting, as well as yellow or
green eye pus, among other irritating and often
painful symptoms.

Stye
A stye is a clogged meibomian gland at the base of
the eyelid, typically caused by an infected eyelash
follicle. Also called a hordeolum, it resembles a
pimple on the eyelid margin and is commonly
accompanied by redness, swollen eyelids and
tenderness in the affected area. Yellow pus, eyelid
crusting and discomfort while blinking also can
occur.

An eye stye usually resolves on its own, but there

are also some home remedies for styes you can
try. It's important to refrain from squeezing the pus
from a stye to reduce the risk of the infection
spreading to other areas of the eye.

SEE ALSO: Why you should never pop a stye

The tear drainage system keeps the eye moist and

protected.

Dry eyes
Insufficient tear production or dysfunction of the
meibomian glands can lead to dry eye syndrome —
an often chronic condition in which the surface of
the eyes is not properly lubricated and becomes
irritated and inflamed.

Symptoms of dry eyes include red, bloodshot eyes,

a burning sensation, blurry vision and a feeling
something is "in" your eye (foreign body sensation).
Sometimes, dry eyes also can cause a very watery
eye discharge to occur.

Contact lenses
If you wear contact lenses, you may find more
sleep in your eyes than normal. This can be due to
a number of reasons, including a contact lens-
related eye infection, contact lens discomfort
resulting in dry and irritated eyes, as well as
rubbing your eyes more while wearing contacts.

If you experience an increase in eye discharge

when wearing contacts, remove your lenses and
see your eye doctor to rule out a potentially serious
eye condition.

Eye injury
A foreign body in the eye (such as dirt, debris or a
chemical substance) or an eye injury can cause
your eyes to secrete a watery discharge as a
natural protective response.

If eye pus or blood in the eye (subconjunctival

hemorrhage) occurs after an eye injury, see your
eye doctor immediately for treatment. All eye
injuries should be treated as a medical emergency.

Corneal ulcer
A corneal ulcer is a sight-threatening, abscess-like
infection of the cornea, usually caused by trauma
to the eye or an untreated eye infection. If not
treated promptly, corneal ulcers can lead to
complete vision loss. Eye pain, redness, swollen
eyelids and thick eye discharge are characteristic
of a corneal ulcer. Eye pus can be so severe that it
clouds the cornea and impairs vision.

Dacryocystitis
When a tear duct is blocked, the lacrimal sac in the
tear drainage system leading to the nose can
become inflamed and infected, causing a tender
and swollen bump to appear under the inner eyelid.
In addition to pain and redness, common
symptoms of dacryocystitis include watery eyes, a
sticky eye discharge and blurred vision.

Eye discharge
treatment
A small amount of eye discharge is harmless, but if
you notice changes in the color, frequency,
consistency and amount, consult your eye doctor.

If an eye infection is the cause of eye mucus, your

eye care practitioner may prescribe antibiotic or
antiviral eye drops and ointments. If eye allergies
are making your eyes watery and irritated, over-
the-counter antihistamine eye drops and
decongestants may relieve symptoms.

Warm compresses placed over your eyes may help

relieve symptoms of itching and general eye
discomfort, as well as help remove eye goop.

If your eyelids are stuck together, the best way to

"unglue" your lids is to wet a washcloth in warm
water and place it over your eyes for a few minutes
before gently wiping away the eye gunk.

At-home checklist
Follow these simple tips to avoid or manage eye
discharge:

Refrain from touching your eyes to avoid the

onset or spread of an eye infection.

Wash your hands frequently, especially if you

have contagious pink eye.

If you experience eye discharge when

wearing contacts, remove your lenses and
see your eye doctor. Sometimes switching to
daily disposable contacts or a different
contact lens material can reduce the risk of
contact lens-related discharge.

If you have an eye infection, discard any

potentially contaminated cosmetics such as
mascara and eyeliner, as well as current
contacts, which may be contaminated.

If allergies are the cause of your watery eyes,

investigate your environment and try to
remove or minimize your exposure to the
irritants. And if you're sensitive to eye drops,
try using preservative-free drops.

Note for Parents

Babies and blocked

tear ducts
Many babies are born with obstructed tear ducts —
the tubes that drain tears from the surface of the
eyes to the nasal cavity — causing watery eyes
and (sometimes) eye discharge.

Symptoms of a blocked tear duct include a

constant pooling of tears in the eye (even when the
child isn't crying), which can spill onto the cheek.
Sticky eye mucus also may be present, especially
collecting on the eyelid margin and causing the
eyelashes stick together.

To help relieve symptoms, keep the area clean by

regularly wiping your baby's eyes with a clean,
moist cloth. Gently massage the inner corner of
your infant's eyes to help to open or unblock the
tear duct.

While most cases of blocked tear ducts resolve

over the first several months of a child's life, at the
first signs of a blocked tear duct always see your
baby's eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam
to rule out a more serious problem.

If your infant's eyes are producing a thick yellow or

green discharge, or there is redness and swelling
around the eyes, this could indicate an eye
infection that should be evaluated by your eye
doctor straightaway.

SEE RELATED: Eye discharge in toddlers and

babies

Page published on Monday, March 4, 2019

Medically reviewed on Friday, April 30, 2021

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