Morning Eyes: Why Are Your Eyes Crusty in the Morning?

Have you ever felt a 'sleep crust' in your eye when you wake up? That eye gunk and stringy mucus may have also caused blurred vision or made it hard to open your eyes. These are among the first signs of 'morning eye.' Unless symptoms are long-lasting or severe, this is usually normal. This article will cover causes, other symptoms you might notice, ways to prevent eye crust, and when to seek medical guidance.

What are morning eyes?

While this name may sound familiar, it’s not a medical term. "Morning eyes is just a cute term that describes a very human experience — minor discomfort in the eye area upon waking,” says Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo, a board-certified ophthalmologist and founder of twenty/twenty beauty.

Dr. Hilal-Campo confirms you may feel like you have a piece of sand in your eye, which can be a sign of eye dryness. Basically, there’s a buildup of mucus, oil, debris, skin cells, and other waste products, which can turn into eye crust, or 'morning eyes.' The crust has a brittle or 'crunchy' texture that can be sticky. That stickiness is what may make it hard for you to open your eyes.

This is more normal than you may think. The crusts of the discharge, or rheum, are "an essential part of your eyes’ function," according to Dr. Hilal-Campo.

Other symptoms of crusty eyes include:

• Minor swelling around the eyelids, like the upper lid
• Temporary blurry vision or vision changes (this is more common for individuals assigned female at birth)
• Dry eyes from a blocked tear duct, which can also cause a stinging sensation, eye redness, or watery eyes

Common causes of morning eyes

Along with eye dryness, these are the most common causes:

Your eyes came into contact with irritants

A variety of irritants can get into your eye, which can later lead to crusty buildup. Dead skin cells and environmental factors such as pollen, dust, and dirt might be the culprits, though they're far from the only ones. TikTok’s trending eye hack — the one that encourages treating watery eyes with petroleum jelly — is another way bacteria and pathogens get into the eye. Even wearing products like contact lenses can dry the eye, according to a 2020 study published in the Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology.

Thankfully, eyes are self-cleaners, to an extent.

As you sleep, your eyes are working to clean themselves out and repair any damage or irritation that may have occurred during the day. Rheum helps not only to cleanse the eye, but protect it.

Dr. Hilal-Campo

You can also manually remove dust, dirt, or other irritants from your eyes. Dr. Hilal-Campo recommends a bottled eye wash saline rinse, saying it's sterile and has the same pH and salinity as the eye. Don't use water from the sink to get the job done. Tap water is a definite no-no since it often contains microorganisms like acanthamoeba, which can cause severe eye infections.

Your allergies are kicking in

Along those lines, allergies can make your eyes water and turn crusty. In fact, allergic conjunctivitis, or inflammation of the thin membrane in the eye area, affects up to 40% of people.

Keep an eye on your symptoms. Dr. Hilal-Campo says it could simply be a histamine response during allergy season, or it might indicate an infection. She advises seeing an eye doctor if the discharge becomes sticky enough to make it difficult to open your eyes.

Your meibomian glands are damaged

If dry, scratchy eyes are a primary symptom, the issue might lie within eye glands. Meibomian gland dysfunction may cause eye dryness, discomfort, and vision changes. Dr. Hilal-Campo explains that this could indicate damage to the meibomian glands, which are small glands located in the eyelashes that release oil (meibum) to help prevent tears from evaporating too quickly.

Menopause

Scratchy eyes don't automatically signal a gland problem, especially alongside menopause.

During menopause, estrogen levels fluctuate dramatically; estrogen plays an important role in the function of the tear film, including the meibum layer. Without enough moisture in the eye, eyes will feel scratchy and dry.

Dr. Hilal-Campo

Generally speaking, research suggests that hormones may be involved in regulating the moisture levels in the eye. A 2023 review in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology summarizes that eye cells have specific receptors for sex hormones, and hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle or menopause may impact the structures in the eye and moisture production.

How to prevent morning eyes

Avoiding eye crust isn’t totally in your control. Dr. Hilal-Campo talks about how aging comes with changes in bodily functions that can’t be prevented.

Research backs this up. A 2022 meta-analysis, including eight studies, explored how aging affects the microenvironment of the eye's surface, contributing to the later development of DED. The authors concluded that older individuals have higher risks of developing DED. The authors also summarize that during the aging process, the tear film stability decreases, and some types of immune system cells involved in inflammation may accumulate in the structures of the eye.

However, simple eyelid hygiene tips (along with the dreaded advice to avoid eye makeup) can help.

1. Use a massage tool. Consider using a gentle, massaging eye roller. Dr. Hilal-Campo advises users to sanitize it with an isopropyl alcohol wipe before gently applying pressure to the closed eyelids. She recommends starting at the inner corner of the eye and working outward, pressing down on the upper lid at the lash line and upward on the lower lid. This method may help relieve congestion in the meibomian glands. Afterward, gently roll over the lower lid area to ease lymphatic congestion and reduce puffiness.
2. Use eye drops. Hydrating eye drops are another home remedy for dry eyes. They're basically fake tears that keep your eyes moist, and they may be prescribed to treat chronic dry eye.
3. Take antihistamines if needed. An over-the-counter antihistamine might provide some relief from eye gunk during allergy season. Getting tested for allergies, and what you might be allergic to, is crucial. Consult with an algologist on the possible treatments and lifestyle modifications to avoid your allergens and the health issues that could result from coming into contact with them.
4. Place a warm washcloth over your eyelids. Another reminder, per the American Academy of Ophthalmology, is to not rub the eyes (as tempting as that is when you feel uncomfortable) to avoid further problems. However, you can gently rub them with a clean washcloth after dunking it in warm water. Lightly place over your eyelids, as you would with eye masks.

When to seek medical help

To be clear, medical help is generally not needed since this is a natural process. In some cases, however, rheum can cause eye infections or inflammation, which needs to be treated promptly. Infections come with additional warning signs, noted ahead. At that point, a medical specialist’s help is needed.

One example of an eye infection is conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye. Signs of pink eye include yellow eye discharge, green discharge, watery discharge, or discharge that’s more gray or white in appearance. Another is an eye stye, which is a painful infection involving the eyelids. It can be caused by inflamed or infected oil glands. Vision changes are another yellow flag.

Always see an ophthalmologist if you’re experiencing changes to your vision, even if they're just when you wake up, to make sure that you’re in good ocular health.

Dr. Hilal-Campo

You’re not alone if you experience watery eyes, eye redness, or 'sleep crust' in your eyes when you wake up. Irritants, allergies, aging, and other factors may lead to these symptoms. To prevent this from happening or worsening, use a warm, clean washcloth; gentle eye massage tools; and other health-promoting practices. If that doesn't work, or you notice colored discharge, talk to an ophthalmologist.

If you’ve experienced this and have other tips you’d like to share — or questions for people who have been through it — feel free to share in the comments.

Article history

Our experts strive to provide up to date information and update articles when new information becomes available

September 23, 2024

Fact checked by Linas Černiauskas, PhD Candidate

September 23, 2024

Updated by Ashley Broadwater

March 10, 2023

Written by Drew Sutton, MD