Why you shouldn't rub your eyes, experts tell you

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Many people mindlessly rub their eyes every day. In addition to the risks associated with hygiene, this can cause serious vision problems.

Ophthalmologist Vance Thompson spoke about why it's better to get rid of the habit of rubbing your eyes. According to him, the cornea of ​​the eye can deform and weaken.

“When you bend metal back and forth several times, it gets tired, and then it cracks. Although the cornea doesn't crack, it starts to get tired,” the specialist noted.

In addition to damaging the structure of the eye, rubbing is dangerous for other reasons:

• Excessive rubbing of the eyes can lead to dark circles and wrinkles;
• If something gets in the eye, rubbing can cause more damage – it is better to let the tears wash away the irritant naturally;
• A huge amount of bacteria is always present on a person's hands, so touching your eyes with your fingers is not the best idea.

How rubbing can harm your eyes

The most serious eye disease (apart from blindness) caused by eye rubbing is keratoconus, according to the Cleveland Clinic website. This is a non-inflammatory eye disease that gradually thins the cornea. In addition, rubbing increases eye pressure. This puts strain on the retina and sometimes leads to damage.

Safe Ways to Rub Your Eyes

You should be very careful when touching your eyes. According to Marc Mifflin, a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Utah, the force of impact required to gently wash your face or wipe it with a towel is an appropriate level of pressure for rubbing your eyes. Any greater force can be harmful.

How to Break the Habit of Rubbing Your Eyes

If a person rubs their eyes frequently, you should try to identify and eliminate the cause of this habit. It is possible that your eyes get tired from working too long and too often on a computer or smartphone. In this case, it is important to take regular breaks from work and consult an ophthalmologist.