How to Know if Eye Discharge is Normal

How to Know if Eye Discharge is Normal

Published by Lance Kugler, MD on December 22, 2015

Whether or not you are from Omaha, NE, you are most likely familiar with the eye discharge commonly called eye mucus, sleepers, eye matter, eye crusties or eye boogers. This build up is natural. Eye discharge, also known as rheum, is a collection of cells, mucus, oil, and debris from tears that form in the corners of our eyes during sleep. Rheum has a protective function that removes waste products and potentially harmful debris from the front surface of our eyes. This is a necessary component of good eye health because it helps keep your eyes lubricated between blinks.

What Causes Eye Discharge?

Our eyes produce mucus throughout the day, but a continuous thin film of tears washes the mucus from our eyes as we blink. Blinking flushes it out before it hardens; however, when we are asleep, we don’t blink. Since we don’t blink, eye discharge collects in the corners of our eyes throughout the night, resulting in us waking up with that familiar crusty “sleep” in our eyes.

What’s Your Eye Discharge Telling You?

Eye discharge can vary in consistency. It can be dry and crusty or wet and sticky depending on how much of the liquid in the discharge has evaporated.

Dry and Crusty

If your eye discharge is dry and crusty, you may have Dry Eye. Dry Eye is when your tear production or quality is insufficient. Common symptoms are:

• general eye irritation
• stinging or burning
• scratchiness/itchiness
• fluctuating vision changes
• tearing up when trying to focus heavily– such as reading, driving, or playing sports
• difficulty wearing contact lenses
• the sensation of having a foreign body in the eye
• tired eyes, as after prolonged computer use

At Kugler Vision, we provide solutions for Dry Eye so you can find relief.   Wet and Sticky

If your eye discharge is very sticky with clumps then you are most likely suffering from having allergens trapped in your eyes. People who wear contact lenses have been found to be more prone to excessive eye discharge because the lenses can irritate the surface of the eye, causing the it to produce more mucus for protection. Also, contact lenses are known for trapping allergens.

Tips to Manage Your Eye Discharge:

• do not touch your eyes with your fingers, use a warm wet cloth or tissue
• wash your hands frequently
• if you have troubles with contact lenses– remove them and consider switching to daily disposable contacts
• try to remove or minimize your exposure to allergens

Some eye matter upon waking up is normal but should not be excessive. Excessive or abnormal eye discharge suggests an eye infection or disease and a doctor should be contacted.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns regarding eye discharge, Dry Eye, or contacts trapping allergens, please contact us here or call or text 402.430.6302. We will be happy to answer your questions!

Lance Kugler, MD

Lance Kugler, MD, is a specialist in LASIK and vision correction surgery and CEO of Kugler Vision. A proud Omaha native, he is passionate about improving lives through clear vision. Dr. Kugler serves on several national boards, and his practice is recognized internationally as a center of excellence. Dr. Kugler is one of the original founders of the Refractive Surgery Alliance, an international organization comprised of over 350 of the world’s leading vision correction surgeons; he also served as its first president. In 2019, Dr. Kugler was selected as a TEDx speaker, and delivered a talk in Omaha about the worldwide epidemic of nearsightedness and refractive solutions. Dr. Kugler is an Associate Professor of Refractive Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Truhlsen Eye Institute, has been published in many medical journals, and participates in numerous clinical studies to advance the field of vision correction surgery. Additionally, Dr. Kugler is proud to be a Board Certified Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery & Visual Sciences. Dr. Kugler and his wife are proud parents to five active kids. When he has a spare moment, he enjoys skiing, tennis, travel, and fine coffee.