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Rubbing your eyes incorrectly can cause sight issues and blindness, doctor warns
We all get itchy eyes from time to time, caused by all kinds of things from allergies to eczema and strain, but it’s really important to itch them correctly.
A doctor has warned that rubbing your eyes the wrong way can lead to sight issues and even blindness, so it’s really important to learn the safe method.
Rubbing eyes incorrectly can cause blindness
Speaking on TikTok, Dr Ever Arias said you should never use your palm, hand or fist to rub your eye because it puts “significant pressure” on your eyeballs.
Over time, this can cause a condition called keratoconus, which is when the clear, dome-shaped front of your eye called the cornea gets thinner and bulges out into a cone shape, the American Academy of Opthalmology explains.
Sometimes, it can be genetic. However, keratoconus is often caused by excessive rubbing, allergies and connective tissue disorders like�Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
“Over time that can cause vision changes, you will start losing your vision and over time you could potentially go blind,” the doctor warned.
He showed a video of someone rubbing their eye under an MRI machine and you can see the huge amount of pressure it is putting on the eyeball, causing it to change shape.
Keratoconus often starts when people are in their late teens to early 20s and the vision symptoms get worse over the next 10 to 20 years.
Early stage symptoms include mild blurring, distorted vision, increased sensitivity to light, eye redness or swelling, increased nearsightedness, astigmatism and not being able to wear contact lenses anymore.
In the later stages, keratoconus can only be treated using a corneal transplant or corneal cross-linking, which uses a special UV light and eye drops to strengthen and flatten the cornea. Plastic corneal implants called intacs can also be surgically placed into the cornea to reshape it.
Doctor shares how to rub your eyes safely
If you do need to itch your eye, Arias recommends doing so with one finger so you are “able to control the amount of pressure”.
Always wash your hands first with soap. Then, use your index finger to gently rub around the eye in circular motions.
Alternatively, place a cool, damp washcloth over the itchy eye while it’s closed and wait for the sensation to subside.
If you have extremely itchy eyes that cause you to rub them often, speak to a doctor who will be able to provide further help.
Dr Ever Arias is a Resident Doctor at UCI Medical Center in Orange County, California who gained his medical degree from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
