Constantly Rubbing Dry Eyes & Rheum on Eyelids (Hard to Open Eyes)

[Dakutenstar]

I am concerned about my left eye because I keep rubbing it. Although it is getting better, I still rub my left eye more than usual, and I rub my right eye less often. I think this may be dry eyes causing me to rub it, but I use eye drops to take care of it. Another problem that arose was a few nights later after starting to rub my eyes was that there was rheum or eye mucus on my eyelids, which I immediately wash. This rheum is more than usual as its on my eye lashes and the rheum is on my left eye. I think this may be connected. The rheum is noticed when I wake up from sleep. This may cause a problem because I wear Orthokeratology lenses at night to correct my vision, and If I take off my contact lenses before washing my face, rheum might get on the contact lenses and if I wash my face before taking out contact lenses, it may damage the contact lens. Again, this rheum only happens in my left eye and most of my eye rubbing only happens in my left eye. Does anybody have any ideas that will help me stop rubbing my eyes? I would gladly appreciate your help. Thanks!

[IronBeagle]

I have orthokeratology lenses too. I think you might be getting more rheum on the left eye because it might be slightly out of place and the eye might produce it to ease the pain of it re-shaping the wrong area. I had this problem for a bit but for the last year or so I have noice that I do not get rheum at all. Hope this helps!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

It ortho-K doesn't work out and it often doesn't consider refractive surgery if you can't make your peace with glasses or contact lens