Rubbing your eyes might seem like no big deal. We do it all the time—when we’re tired, stressed, or have an itch. But did you know that rubbing your eyes could actually be harmful? This common habit can lead to some serious eye problems. Here is why you should keep your hands away from your eyes.

Increased Chances of Eye Irritation

Rubbing your eyes can make them irritated. When you rub, you can scratch the surface of your eyes, making them more sensitive and sore. This can cause more redness and discomfort and keep making things worse. Instead of rubbing, try using eye drops or a cool compress to help soothe your eyes.

Rubbing Your Eyes Can Cause Infections

Your hands touch so many surfaces during the day—like doorknobs and keyboards—all of which are covered in germs and bacteria. When you rub your eyes, you’re putting those germs straight into your eyes. The thin layer of mucus covering your eye is very easy to infect. Germs can get in and cause issues like conjunctivitis (pink eye).

Pink eye is pretty uncomfortable. It causes redness, itching, and discharge. Plus, it spreads easily to others. Keeping your hands away from your eyes is one of the best ways to avoid these symptoms. If you need to relieve an itch, use a sterile saline solution or eye drops instead.

You Can Damage the Blood Vessels in Your Eyes

Another problem with rubbing your eyes is that it can damage the small blood vessels in the conjunctiva, the clear tissue covering the white part of your eye. These blood vessels are delicate, and pressing on them can cause them to break. This can lead to broken blood vessels and red spots in your eye. It might look scary even if it isn’t always dangerous, but rubbing them often can weaken your eyes over time.

It’s like pushing down on a bruise over and over—eventually, it won’t heal well. If your eyes are itchy or irritated, use a cold compress or rinse them gently with cool water instead.

Rubbing Makes Allergy Symptoms Worse

If you have allergies, you know how itchy your eyes can get. But rubbing your eyes when they’re itchy can actually make your allergy symptoms worse. Experts say that rubbing causes your body to release histamines, which are chemicals that make the itching and swelling worse. That’s why your eyes tend to get even redder and itchier after rubbing them.

Instead of rubbing, try using antihistamine eye drops to help with the itching. These drops can calm the histamine reaction in your eyes, which means less redness and itching. Plus, they’re much safer for your eye health.

Rubbing Your Eyes Can Lead to Vision Problems

You might not know this, but rubbing your eyes can even mess with your vision. Pressing on your eyeballs too often can weaken the cornea (the clear front part of your eye). In severe cases, this can cause a condition called keratoconus. The Mayo Clinic says that keratoconus happens when the cornea gets thinner and starts to bulge out, which makes your vision blurry and sensitive to light.

Keratoconus can be so serious that, in some cases, you might need a corneal transplant. The good news is that you can avoid this risk by simply stopping the habit of rubbing your eyes.

Rubbing Can Cause Dark Circles and Wrinkles

Rubbing your eyes doesn’t just affect your health—it can change how you look too. The skin around your eyes is very thin and sensitive—it’s one of the first areas to show signs of aging. When you rub your eyes, you stretch that skin, which can cause wrinkles and fine lines. Over time, this can make your eyes look tired and aged, even if you’re not.

Rubbing your eyes can also break small blood vessels around your eyes, which leads to dark circles. While dark circles aren’t harmful, many people don’t like how they look. To avoid these issues, keep your hands away from your eyes and use soothing eye creams to help the skin stay elastic and healthy.

Rubbing Your Eyes Can Cause Eye Fatigue

When your eyes feel tired, rubbing them can seem like an easy way to get relief. But this relief is only temporary and can cause more problems. Doctors say that rubbing your eyes activates the vagus nerve, which can lower your heart rate and make you feel relaxed. However, this short feeling of comfort doesn’t solve the real problem of eye fatigue.

Eye fatigue often comes from overusing your eyes, like spending too much time looking at screens or reading in bad lighting. Instead of rubbing your eyes, try taking breaks from screens, following the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds), and using good lighting. These habits will help relieve eye strain without harming your eyes.

How to Stop Rubbing Your Eyes

Stopping the habit of rubbing your eyes can be hard, but it’s worth it for your eye health. Here are some tips to help you quit:

Find Out What Triggers You: Notice when you want to rub your eyes. Is it when you’re tired? When they feel dry or itchy? Knowing your triggers can help you find better solutions, like using eye drops.
Keep Your Hands Busy: If you rub your eyes out of boredom or habit, keep your hands busy with something else, like a stress ball or a small toy.
Use a Cold Compress: If your eyes are tired or itchy, put a cool washcloth over them for a few minutes. This will help soothe your eyes without the risks of rubbing.
Stay Hydrated: Dry eyes are often a reason why people rub them. Drink enough water during the day to help keep your eyes naturally moist.
Use Artificial Tears: Keep artificial tears on hand. If you feel the need to rub, use the drops instead. They can help relieve dryness and itching without causing damage.

When to See a Doctor

If your eyes are always itchy or irritated, even though you’ve tried to stop rubbing them, it’s a good idea to see a doctor. You could have chronic dry eye or another issue that needs treatment. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says to get medical help if you have ongoing redness, pain, or changes in your vision.

The Bottom Line

Rubbing your eyes might feel good for a few seconds, but it can cause a lot of problems for your eye health and appearance. From infections to wrinkles to vision issues, the risks just aren’t worth it. When next you want to rub your eyes, try one of the safer options we talked about. Your eyes—and your future self—will be glad you did.