It’s incredible! These diseases can be seen from a small amount of eye mucus

Eye secretions, which we usually call "eye boogers", are very common when you wake up in the morning and find that there is eye boogers in your eyes. But have you ever observed the amount and characteristics of your eye boogers? Experts say that eye secretions are closely related to many eye diseases, so observing the amount and characteristics of eye discharge can help people detect certain eye diseases early. This is especially important for newborns, children and people who wear contact lenses.

There is a cartilage-like thing in our eyelids called "tarsal plate", in which many meibomian glands are arranged neatly and orderly. The gland openings are at the edge of the eyelids, close to the eyelashes. The meibomian glands will secrete a liquid like oil continuously. During the day, these oils are applied to the edges of the eyelids through blinking, which protects the eyes. It can prevent lubricating eye mucus from flowing out of the eye, and it can prevent sweat from entering the eye. However, when people sleep, their eyes are closed for a long time, but oil is still being secreted. The accumulated oil mixes with the dust that enters the eyes during the day and impurities in the tears, and runs to the corners of the eyes to form eye boogers.

When normal people wake up in the morning or wash their faces, they will find a very small amount of secretions in the corners of their eyes. This is related to the reduced eyelid movement, reduced tear secretion, and slow discharge during sleep at night. The normal eye secretions of a 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 light white and are usually not easy to detect. Because the amount of secretions is small and can be discharged from the tear duct in time, it will not cause eye discomfort.

When certain diseases occur in the eyes, the amount or nature of eye secretions will change. Usually, people notice a significant increase in secretions and feel a series of discomforts, such as difficulty opening their eyes in the morning and blurred vision.

At this time, in addition to the above-mentioned components, the secretions will contain more shed tissue cells, inflammatory cells, vascular exudates, pathogens, etc.

Pay attention to the following abnormal secretions

Depending on the viscosity, color and other properties of the secretions, they can be divided into watery, viscous, mucopurulent, purulent, bloody secretions, etc. Secretions of different natures can help us preliminarily determine the approximate nature of eye diseases so that we can take appropriate treatment measures.

1. Watery discharge

It is a thin, slightly viscous watery liquid. Increased secretion often indicates viral keratoconjunctivitis, early tear duct obstruction, foreign bodies on the ocular surface, minor trauma, etc. Since the bridge of the nose in children is not fully developed, some children may have epicanthus and inverted eyelashes, which often cause eye irritation symptoms and increased watery secretions. If the eyelid position of the elderly is abnormal, such as entropion or ectropion, it will also cause an increase in watery secretions.

2. Sticky secretions

It often occurs in patients with dry eyes and acute allergic conjunctivitis, and often manifests as a sticky white filamentous substance, which is very similar to the properties of commonly used glue. Patients may also have symptoms such as foreign body sensation and itchy eyes. Especially for children with allergic conjunctivitis, when they wake up in the morning, they often say that they can pull out threads from their eyes, which are often sticky secretions.

3. Mucopurulent discharge

A relatively viscous, slightly yellowish substance. If this type of secretion increases, the possibility of chronic allergic conjunctivitis and trachoma should be considered.

4. Purulent discharge

This is the issue that should be taken seriously. The appearance of purulent secretions often indicates bacterial infection and you must go to the hospital for treatment in time. If a large amount of purulent secretions are found in both eyes of a newborn within 3-4 days after birth, it is highly suggestive of gonococcal conjunctivitis, commonly known as "pus discharge from the eyes." Patients with purulent dacryocystitis often have purulent secretions, which are generally concentrated in the inner corner of the eye.

5. Bloody discharge

If you find that your eye discharge is light pink or obviously blood red, you should consider eye trauma. If the eye secretions are light pink or slightly bloody, acute viral infection should be considered. At this time, the patient will also have symptoms such as red eyes and swollen preauricular lymph nodes.