VIEWPOINT | Itchy? Tired? Don’t rub your eyes – it can cause real damage to your cornea

Guest column by Dr. Vance Thompson

Keratoconus is one of the most important eye diseases for parents, teachers, coaches and adults to understand because, if caught early, we now have the ability to help save vision and reduce the chance of future corneal transplantation. One of the most overlooked contributors to this disease is something many people do every single day without thinking about it: rubbing their eyes.

People often do not realize how much repetitive eye rubbing can damage the eye. When we rub our eyes, we are pushing on the eyeball and especially on the cornea, the clear front window of the eye that provides most of the eye’s focusing power. Over time, repeated pressure can weaken this delicate structure. For many people, rubbing begins innocently because their eyes itch from allergies, dryness or irritation. Unfortunately, rubbing can become habitual. Patients often push harder and harder over time to achieve the same temporary feeling of relief without realizing they may be harming their vision.