Is rubbing your eyes bad for them?

Is rubbing your eyes bad? Well, this answer probably isn't a total surprise: Yes, rubbing one of the most delicate and sensitive parts of your body roughly can be bad. Also, rain is wet. 

​In all seriousness, we're being a bit harsh. Asking "Can rubbing your eyes damage them?" is actually a fair question. ​Rubbing your eyes can feel relieving. The danger comes when you do it too often or with a lot of pressure. This can cause infections, worsen certain eye conditions, and lead to damage such as corneal thinning and wrinkles. ​

If you wear contacts, you're dealing with additional risks because you're essentially making those contacts have a dance party in your eyes when you rub them. And that simply can't be good. ​

Don't worry, we have some solutions. Keep reading to learn what you should do the next time your eyes are dry or fatigued and you're tempted to give them a vigorous massage.

What are some risks of rubbing your eyes?

So, is rubbing your eyes harmful? Yes. And we're not just fearmongering. Here are the very real risks you're exposing yourself to.

1. Increased chance of an eye infection

As you perform your daily tasks, your hands are picking up germs everywhere and anywhere they can. One little rub of the eye and those germs are transferred to your eyes. These germs can cause infections like Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Salmonella, and E. coli. We all learned "hands to ourselves" in preschool, but maybe they should have added "hands off those eyes," too.

2. Thinning of the cornea

Your cornea is a protective outer layer and a critical refractive part of the eye. Based on its shape, curvature, and thickness, it contributes significantly to the eye's refractive status.

The cornea relies on tiny collagen fibers to maintain its curved shape. When these fibers weaken or break, the cornea bulges outward, forming a cone shape, resulting in a condition known as keratoconus. Frequent rubbing can cause trauma to the eye, and over time, that repeated trauma weakens the collagen fibers.

3. Developing wrinkles more quickly

Listen, we're all trying to do our best to stay young and hot, right? Well, bad news: That eye rubbing isn't helping you. The skin around your eyes is delicate and fragile, and you're stretching it when you rub it. As we age, skin loses some of its elasticity. Rubbing your eyes isn't the only cause of wrinkles, but it can stretch the skin prematurely, leading to more wrinkles.

4. Increased risk of scratching your cornea

Rubbing your eyes is about the worst way to attempt to remove debris from them. Instead of relieving the pain, rubbing may push the particles further into your eyes, scratching your cornea. (No, thank you, we'll take a hard pass on eyeball scratches.) Minor scratches can lead to redness and irritation, while larger injuries may result in infections and scars.

5. Increased redness and irritation

Allergy season is notorious for causing your eyes to feel itchy and dry. As tempting as it may be to rub them, this can lead to increased redness, itching, and watering, making contacts uncomfortable, dirty, and less clear. If you suffer from severe allergy symptoms, consider switching to one-day disposable lenses, as they don't allow much allergen buildup.

Can you rub your eyes with contacts in?

Rubbing your eyes when you're wearing contacts can come with some extra complications, such as:

• Contact lens damage. That rubbing can make the contact lens fold or tear. If you have lenses that are meant to last a long time (monthly contacts), that one gentle rub might be a punch to your budget.

• Contact lens displacement. Rubbing your eyes can shift the contact out of place, making it hard to see. If you're driving (or skiing), you're going to really wish you could still see clearly.

• Infections and eye damage. Your contact is a soft, pliable material. Don't assume that having a contact in will protect you from the infections and eye damage that eye rubbing can bring. Eye rubbing risks don't discriminate — they apply to contact wearers and noncontact wearers alike.

Why does rubbing your eyes feel so good?

Why does it feel good to rub your eyes? Rubbing your eyes can stimulate tear production and relieve dryness or irritation in the short term. However, the relief from pressure or fatigue you might feel is temporary, and you could cause additional issues by frequent eye rubbing. It's like how licking dry lips provides temporary relief but ultimately makes the problem worse. 

What should you do instead of rubbing your eyes?

So, now you're probably wondering how to rub your eyes safely. If you're still wondering this, you may have lost the plot. Step away from the eyes. No rubbing. It's not worth the risks.

Instead, soothe your eyes in other ways. Here's what you can do to relieve itching or dry eyes:

• Use eye drops. Use lubricating eye drops to relieve dry eyes.

• Try a humidifier. Use a humidifier at home to help rehydrate dry eyes.

• Put on a warm or cool compress. For dry or irritated eyes, a warm compress can help stimulate the oil glands in the eyelids, improving tear quality and reducing dryness. A cool compress can provide short-term relief from irritation or allergies by constricting blood vessels.

• Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Following the 20-20-20 rule to reduce eye strain (particularly when working on a computer). Every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

• Keep contacts clean. Your eyes might be bugging you because there's dirt in your eyes or on your contacts. If you see or feel anything in your eyes, flush your eyes with preservative-free artificial tears, a contact lens rewetting drop, or sterile saline solution. Do not rub your eyes. We repeat, do not rub your eyes!

Reduce the need to rub your eyes with proper eyewear

The right eyewear can increase comfort and reduce fatigue, reducing the temptation to rub your eyes. For example, you can wear contact lenses designed for dry eyes or for comfort, such as lenses by the popular brand ACUVUE OASYS.

Remember that wearing contacts too long can irritate your eyes and make you want to rub them. So, give those precious seeing marbles a break every once in a while. Try switching to glasses in the evenings.

Lastly, wearing the wrong prescription can also make your eyes feel uncomfortable, as they're constantly straining to see. Use our online vision exam to renew your contact lens prescriptions before ordering them.​

 

Original publish date: 2/17/2021

Updated date: 1/26/2026