Eye gunk serves as a measure of eye health. It is created when the secretions from the eyes dry up and stick to the eyes, protecting them from the waste inside. However, if the amount of eye gunk suddenly increases or changes in color or shape, it could indicate an abnormality in eye health and should be closely observed.
Transparent, thread-like eye gunk
If your eye gunk is transparent and stretches like a thread, it could be due to dry eye syndrome. When bacteria invade the eye, the eye increases its secretion to protect itself, including immune cells such as white blood cells. This usually occurs due to allergens such as pollen or dust, and it is not contagious.
Sticky eye gunk
Sticky eye gunk could indicate bacterial conjunctivitis or keratitis, accompanied by redness and pain. When bacteria invade the eye, acute infection occurs, and the secretion increases to protect the eye from bacteria, causing more yellowish eye gunk than usual. Bacterial conjunctivitis or keratitis is treated with antibiotic ointments, and it is safe to get treatment from an ophthalmologist as soon as the symptoms appear.
If it flows like tears?
If your eye gunk is transparent and flows, it could be viral conjunctivitis. A viral infection causes this, and symptoms such as pain, bleeding, frequent eye gunk, tearing, and foreign matter sensation appear. Most recover naturally within two weeks without special treatment, but sometimes antibiotic eye drops or steroid eye drops are used to prevent corneal opacity.
White eye gunk stuck on the eyelid edge
If the area around the eyelid turns red and the white eye gunk is stuck, it could be blepharitis. This inflammation is caused by blockage of the oil glands that secrete fat from the eyelids. It gets better if you put a hot pack on your eyes and clean the root of the eyelashes.
Dry and thin eye gunk
Small and dry particles stuck in the inner corner of the eye when waking up from sleep could be due to dry eye syndrome. As the moisture dries off, mucus and oil stick together and dry out, remaining around the eyes in the morning. It is good to supplement the moisture of the eyes with artificial tears, and it is good to avoid using smartphones and computers for a long time.
What is dangerous eye gunk?
Apart from the eye gunk types described above, if excessive sticky eye gunk occurs on the entire eyelashes, it’s accompanied by yellow-green pus, there are abnormal visual symptoms, or it’s contagious to others, immediately visit an ophthalmologist and take action.
Is it a cold or hot pack when the eyes itch?
It is crucial to change the temperature of the pack depending on the symptoms of the eyes. If you have itchy allergic conjunctivitis or swelling due to trauma such as heat or pain, you should use a cold pack. In this case, ensuring that the ice does not directly touch the eyes is essential! A hot pack is helpful when symptoms are without pain, such as styes, blepharitis, and conjunctivitis. Hot packs effectively improve blood circulation and stimulate the tear glands to clean up the waste of the eyes.
Are there red spots on the white of the eye, or has it turned yellow?
If there are red spots on the white of the eye, it could indicate high blood pressure. When blood pressure is high, the thin membrane covering the white of the eye can easily burst, creating red spots on the white of the eye. However, red spots can also occur when the blood pressure in the face suddenly spikes due to coughing. On the other hand, if the white of the eye has turned yellow, liver function has likely decreased due to hepatitis. When liver function declines, bilirubin, a reddish-brown substance that is not adequately broken down, floats around in the blood and accumulates on the cells of the eyes and skin, making it appear yellow.
If your eyes feel stiff, try using soap
If your eyes feel stiff and cloudy or are easily congested, try developing a habit of washing your eyelids. For eye health, use an alkaline soap with a pH of 9 to 10 and wash your face twice a day, morning and night, scrubbing the rim of your eyelids and keeping soapy water out of your eyes. Many people use neutral cleansers, but alkaline soap is more effective in removing lipids.
A message to unclog the sebaceous glands of the eyes
Your eyes may be tired due to dryness, so it’s a good idea to open the “Meibomian glands.” The Meibomian gland is a sebaceous gland located in the conjunctiva on the inside of the upper and lower eyelids, and fat is secreted into the eyes through the Meibomian gland, forming a fat layer on the eyeball and preventing excessive evaporation of tears. Apply a warm towel to your eyes and massage the upper and lower eyelids. The hardened oil will be discharged, and you may see a hazy view. But this is a temporary phenomenon; you don’t need to worry.
By. Shin Young Jeon
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