Why You Should Think Twice Before Rubbing Your Eyes

While rubbing your eyes from time to time may feel good, that does not mean you should do it. From a health standpoint, you should try to refrain from rubbing your eyes because you can potentially do quite a bit of damage if you are not careful. For example, if you rub your eyes too hard, you can damage your cornea, which is the outermost layer of the eye. Applying too much pressure to the cornea could not only impair your vision, but it could also lead to other problems, such as sensitivity to light, blurry or reduced vision, red or inflamed eyes, and headaches, according to Healthline.

In addition, rubbing your eyes too frequently can result in a condition called keratoconus, which can weaken your cornea. Over time, the cornea becomes misshapen. This change, which ultimately affects your vision, cannot be corrected with prescription glasses. In fact, the only way to achieve 20/20 vision after you have been diagnosed with keratoconus is by wearing special prescription contact lenses (via Cleveland Clinic).

Tips to help you stop rubbing your eyes

There are several reasons why you might rub your eyes frequently. Medical News Today notes that these include eye strain, dry eyes, swollen glands, or an infection, such as blepharitis or conjunctivitis (pink eye). In any of these cases, rubbing your eyes will only make the condition worse. The first thing you should do is find out why your eyes might be itching by consulting a medical professional. You may need to treat them either with warm compresses or medication.

If you rub your eyes because you frequently use a computer or you are tired, try to make a genuine effort to stop. Healthline recommends wearing gloves or mittens whenever possible to deter you from rubbing your eyes. If you continue to rub your eyes out of habit, keep something nearby, such as a stress ball, to occupy your hands and keep them away from your eyes.