Understanding the Gunk in My Eyes: Causes, Types and Treatments

What are the Other Terms for Gunk in the Eye?

The other terms for gunk in the eye are discharge and mucus and are often used interchangeably with each other. The dried-up gunk that builds up around your lashes and corners of the eye when waking up is known as rheum or ‘sleep’.

How Long Does Eye Gunk Typically Last?

Eye gunk typically lasts throughout the day in order to maintain moisture in your eyes. In the case of conjunctivitis (pink eye), eye gunk may continue during the seven to fourteen days or two to three weeks that conjunctivitis is said to last according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

Are There Any Lifestyle Factors that Can Contribute to Eye Gunk Formation?

Yes, there are some lifestyle factors that can contribute to eye gunk formation. Factors can include eye makeup or contact lenses which may cause irritation that can lead to excessive discharge. Natural circumstances like seasonal changes may cause excessive discharge for some individuals and windy conditions may cause dirt or debris to enter the eye which can also cause excessive discharge.

1. White or Yellow Balls of Mucus

White or yellow balls of mucus can be an indication of your tear ducts being blocked due to an infection in the tear drainage, or in medical terms, can be referred to as dacryocystitis. When the tear system is functioning normally, tears are able to pass from your eyes into the duct and through to your nasal passages, but when tears aren’t able to flow through these pathways, tears can get stuck and develop an infection. The causes of a blocked tear duct can include ageing, trauma to the nose from broken bones or surgeries, underlying medical conditions related to your immune system like sinusitis, and certain types of medication. Other symptoms can include eye pain, swelling around the area of the eye, redness, abscess or a sore in the corner of your eyelids or a fever according to Cleveland Clinic. It is advised to see your doctor or optometrist as they can prescribe antibiotic eye treatment.

2. Stringy White Mucus

Stringy white mucus may be a result of allergic conjunctivitis, which can occur when allergens such as pollen, dust, pets and mould are present. Mucus as a result of allergic conjunctivitis can be described as stringy and white when the body creates histamine as a response to the allergens which can lead to the secretions sticking together according to John Hopkins Medicine. For allergic conjunctivitis, it may be necessary to use antihistamine eye drops or antihistamine tablets to alleviate symptoms. If you are concerned about your symptoms, you should consult with your optometrist.

3. Watery Mucus

Watery mucus can indicate signs of viral conjunctivitis, which can occur through physical contact with contaminated objects and surfaces. Watery mucus due to viral conjunctivitis can often form as a combination of tears and mucus. Other symptoms of viral conjunctivitis can include the sensation of a foreign body inside your eye, itching, and sensitivity to light and red eyes. According to the National Institutes of Health, while you cannot treat viruses, you may be able to relieve your symptoms through artificial tears, cold compresses or antihistamines.

4. Thick, Crusty Mucus

Thick crusty mucus may be one of the symptoms of an inflamed eyelid, usually forming along your eyelashes, accompanied by other symptoms such as redness in the eye, blurred vision, itchy or burning eyes and swelling around the eyelid and can be indicators of the condition called blepharitis. Blepharitis usually affects both eyes and can develop from viral or fungal infection, allergies, use of eye drops, make-up, blocked oil glands, or skin conditions such as dermatitis or rosacea according to Health Direct. Your optometrist can diagnose the type of blepharitis depending on where it occurs; anterior blepharitis can develop when the region of your eyelid where your eyelashes come out is red, swollen or your lashes have dandruff. Posterior blepharitis can occur when your meibomian glands secrete oil that is thick or becomes clogged according to Health Direct and the National Institutes of Health. You can see your optometrist to get this thoroughly diagnosed and you may be referred to an ophthalmologist if required. Treatments such as antibiotics and anti-inflammatories may be prescribed. In some cases, addressing conditions that can trigger blepharitis such as rosacea or eye conditions like dry eye may be helpful.

5. Thick Green or Grey Mucus

Thick green or grey mucus can be a sign of bacterial conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, and occurs due to an infection of the eye’s conjunctiva. Other symptoms can include redness in the sclera (the white part of the eye), excessive tearing, gritty sensation in one or both eyes, itching, burning, sensitivity to light and swollen eyelids. Your optometrist will be able to confirm the diagnosis of conjunctivitis based on your symptoms and may also carry out a visual acuity test to make sure your vision is healthy. If your optometrist determines your conjunctivitis is caused by bacteria, they may provide you with a prescription for antibiotic eye drops, ointments or tablets.

6. Small, Dry Particles of Mucus

Small dry particles of mucus may indicate dry eye syndrome and can develop when your eyes are not able to produce a sufficient amount of tears. Small, dry particles of mucus can form in the corners of your eyes and can be caused by factors such as increased age, menopause, certain medications like oral contraceptives, antidepressants, antihistamines, diuretics and beta-blockers, climatic conditions, air pollutants, long periods of not blinking and excessive screen time according to Better Health. The symptom of small dry particles of mucus can also be accompanied by a stinging or burning sensation, itching; especially in the corners of your eyes, redness, the sensation of needing to close your eyes and a gritty sensation. If you are experiencing dry eye syndrome, it is important to seek attention from your optometrist to prevent any possible complications such as discomfort in the eye, problems with your vision or damage to your cornea. An optometrist can diagnose dry eye by using a slit-lamp biomicroscope or a dye solution that enables assessment of the tear film in your eye according to Better Health. An optometrist can advise on a solution that best fits the severity of your condition but also may prescribe eye drops or gels to assist with delivering moisture back to the surface of your eye.

1. Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are thin, clear disks that you can wear on the surface of your eye to help correct vision problems. Contact lenses can lead to eye infections due to sleeping with your contact lenses on, an accumulation of microbes, unclean management of contact lenses or cases and wearing extended-wear contact lenses. The factors that can contribute to an infection are a reduced amount of oxygen in the cornea, mechanical abrasion and bacterial contamination of the cornea, which can also cause discharge in the eye according to the National Library of Medicine. Along with the symptom of eye discharge and mucus, infection from contact lenses may also include, eye or eyelid inflammation, pain, redness or watery eyes, dry eyes and an allergic reaction according to Better Health. It is more common for those who use extended-wear contact lenses to experience this kind of infection. It is strongly advised that you should remove your contact lenses right away if you are experiencing any of these symptoms and seek medical attention from an optometrist or doctor.

2. Eye Allergies

Eye allergies, also known as allergic conjunctivitis, are reactions to substances and irritants such as pollen, pet dander, dust and mould. The body produces the chemical, histamine when coming into contact with these allergens and eye irritants to defend itself, which can lead to excessive tears and watery or white and stringy discharge, redness, swelling and itching according to John Hopkins Medicine. One of the two types of allergic conjunctivitis is seasonal allergic conjunctivitis which can develop during spring and summer and perennial allergic conjunctivitis which means it is ongoing and is usually triggered by allergens that are normally present indoors such as mould, dust mites and pet dander. An optometrist can diagnose this by assessing your symptoms and may perform an eye test. Eye allergies may be treated with a cold compress, artificial tears and antihistamine eye drops or tablets.

3. Eye Infections

Eye infections are caused by bacteria, a virus or a fungus and can result in eye discharge, redness, itching, pain, watery eyes and swelling. The most common form of eye infection is bacterial conjunctivitis which can occur when the conjunctiva is inflamed. The conjunctiva is the name of the thin layer of tissue inside the eyelid. Symptoms of a bacterial infection are normally mild and may not likely cause vision problems according to Cleveland Clinic, however, if you are concerned about your symptoms or they become worse, you should contact your doctor or optometrist. Treatment can include carefully wiping discharge from the eye with a clean cloth or damp cotton pad or using eye drops such as artificial tears or lubricating eye drops. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if the discharge occurs during conjunctivitis, you can consult with your optometrist on whether antibiotic treatment is required.

4. Eye Injury

An eye injury can include scratches, punctures, bruising, foreign material flying into the eye and chemical splashes. Foreign material entering the eye may cause watery or red eyes, a scratchy sensation or blurred vision. Further complications include corneal scratches, infection and scarring or an ulcer according to Better Health. An infection could occur if the foreign body remains in your eye, which could lead to discharge or excessive tears and watery mucus due to the irritation. Likely causes of an eye injury can take place during work; for those who handle chemicals or hazardous material or during sports, involving balls, bats or a lot of physical contact. If you experience any eye injuries, you should seek urgent medical care. An optometrist or medical professional can carefully remove foreign bodies from your eye and evaluate your eyes and vision to prevent any further complications.

5. Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome can occur when your eyes do not produce enough tears to maintain moisture and comfort for your eyes, potentially resulting in extra mucus production in the eyelid region, especially when waking up. According to Better Health, dry eye syndrome may also present other symptoms such as itchiness, redness, stinging/burning, and gritty or foreign body sensation in the eye. Factors such as taking certain medication, ageing, weather or climate conditions, irritants such as dust or smoke, lack of blinking and prolonged screen time may lead to dry eye syndrome. An optometrist will be able to check for dry eye syndrome by examining the surface of your eye with a slit lamp biomicroscope, using a drop of yellow dye, called sodium fluorescein, in the eyes to assess the cornea, or by measuring tear production according to Better Health. Using eye gels or drops like artificial tears to help moisturise the surface of the eye may help alleviate your dry eyes.

6. Blocked Tear Ducts

Blocked tear ducts can occur when your tears are not able to drain properly from your eyes through to the nasal passageways; this may cause watery eyes, discharge of pus, irritation and itching. Other symptoms that may develop are crusted mucus forming along your eyelashes, redness in the sclera, swelling in your eye’s inner corner and blurred vision according to Cleveland Clinic. Factors of increased age, eye injuries, chronic sinus infections and trauma to the nose may contribute to blockage in the tear duct system. Blocked tear ducts can be diagnosed by an optometrist and may be treated according to the severity of your condition.

7. Corneal Ulcer

A corneal ulcer is an open sore on the cornea and can be caused by eye infections and dry eye. Corneal ulcers can also cause tearing and discharge in the eye among other symptoms such as redness, sensitivity to light, eyelid swelling, severe pain and a white spot appearing over your cornea. People who use steroid eye drops, have dry eyes, use contact lenses, or those with eyelid disorders may be at an increased risk of developing corneal ulcers according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Other known causes of corneal ulcers include viral and bacterial infections and cornea abrasions. Treatment for this condition may require antifungal or antibiotic eyedrops, an injection or a surgical replacement of your cornea.

How to Know if the Eye Discharge Could Be a Symptom of an Infection?

You can know if eye discharge could be a symptom of an infection by looking at factors such as colour, consistency and whether other symptoms are present. However, discharge may not always be a sign of an infection, it can also indicate irritation in the eye. The steps to know if eye discharge could be a symptom of an infection are listed below.

1. First, check the consistency of the discharge; whether it is watery, watery and stringy, dry and crusty or thick. Eye discharge that is thicker in consistency may be a result of an infection.
2. Second, examine the colour of your eye discharge. Discharge that is either yellow or green can indicate an infection and white or clear discharge can indicate irritation in the eye as well as allergy-related or viral conjunctivitis.
3. Third, assess if you’re experiencing other symptoms such as redness, swelling, itchiness or the feeling of foreign material in your eye. These other symptoms may suggest that something else is causing irritation.
4. Finally, if you’re experiencing discharge that is green or yellow in colour and thick, you can consult your doctor or optometrist on whether it is an infection or not.

How to Prevent Eye Gunk from Forming?

To prevent eye gunk from forming, it is advised to maintain hygienic habits such as washing your hands regularly, minimising touching or rubbing your eyes and using eye drops for dry eyes. In most cases, eye gunk that occurs in the morning upon waking up is natural and cannot be prevented. Eye gunk or discharge that occurs during allergies is also normal and not a cause for concern and may be alleviated by using antihistamine eyedrops.

When to Seek Medical Attention For Eye Gunk?

You should seek medical attention for eye gunk when you are experiencing an excessive amount of sticky, green or yellow discharge, blurry vision, sensitivity to light or redness and pain. A medical professional will be able to diagnose the underlying condition and determine a treatment based on the severity of your condition.

How do Eye Doctors Typically Treat Eye Gunk?

Eye doctors typically treat eye gunk that is caused by eye infections or conditions through prescription antibiotics or steroid eye drops according to Health Direct. In most cases, eye drops may be able to relieve the symptoms of yellow or green discharge, watery and stringy discharge or dry particles of mucus. An optometrist may need to assess your vision to ensure there are no further complications caused by the underlying condition, they may do so by carrying out certain tests.