What's wrong with excessive eye secretion

The normal secretion of our eyes is eye boogers. This substance is not secreted in large quantities under normal circumstances. Generally, the amount will be more after sleeping, but generally it remains within a certain range. However, once the eye secretions increase, it is necessary to pay attention to it. Not only physiological factors, but many pathological factors can also cause excessive eye secretions. So, what causes excessive eye secretions? Let’s take a look at the reasons below.

Normal physiological secretion

The eye secretions of a normal person mainly come from the lacrimal glands, meibomian glands, mucus secreted by ocular surface cells and desquamated ocular surface epithelial cells. Most of them are transparent or pale white and are not easy to detect. Only when sleeping at night, the eyes are closed for a long time, but oil is still secreted normally. In this way, the dust and oil that enter the eyes during the day and the impurities in the tears are mixed together, and finally a viscous secretion is formed. Under normal circumstances, a small amount of eye secretion is a normal physiological phenomenon and there is no need to be nervous.

Sticky secretions

The viscous secretions are usually sticky white filamentous substances, similar to the glue we commonly use. The secretions can even be pulled out of the eyes, accompanied by symptoms such as itchy eyes and foreign body sensation. People who typically experience this discharge may have dry eyes or acute allergic conjunctivitis.

Purulent discharge

The appearance of purulent secretions usually warns that the eyes are infected by bacteria and must be treated in the hospital in time; if purulent secretions appear in the inner corner of the eye, it may be purulent dacryocystitis; if a newborn baby has a large amount of purulent secretions in both eyes, it is likely that the baby has diseases such as gonococcal conjunctivitis or congenital dacryocystitis. For this reason, after a newborn is born, parents should pay special attention to the amount of eye secretions. If there is still a lot after a week after birth, they must go to the hospital for a detailed examination and targeted treatment in time.

Mucopurulent discharge

Mucopurulent secretion is a sticky, slightly yellowish substance. If a large amount of similar secretion appears in the eyes, it may be a sign of chronic allergic conjunctivitis or trachoma.

Bloody discharge

If the eyes have light pink or obviously blood-red discharge, it may be caused by trauma; if the discharge is light pink or slightly reddish, it may be an acute viral infection.

Watery discharge

If a large amount of thin and slightly sticky watery fluid appears in the eyes, you may have viral keratoconjunctivitis, foreign body on the ocular surface, early tear duct obstruction, etc. In addition, epicanthus, trichiasis, entropion, ectropion, etc. can also cause similar symptoms.