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Ask The Doctor |
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To submit a question
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General Question
Question:
When I was younger I woke up
and couldn't really open my eyes at first because
of this gooey stuff that sealed them close. So my
mom put boric acid mixed with water on it. I don't
know exactly what it was called but I would like
to know how someone could form that eye mucus like
goo in your eye that makes their eyelids stick
together. Thank you for your interesting
presentation today at St. Pete Catholic, I enjoyed
it. IT wasn't a boring lecture and you could tell
that you took a while to put it together, So
thanks again.
Answer:
Everyone's eyes make clear tears all day and also
a small amount of normal, lubricating mucous all
day long and all night. This is why our eyes have
a small amount of normal mucous in the corner
every morning.
The mucous glands can over secrete when they are
irritated. The irritation and increased mucous can
be from sun, wind, smoke, make-up, inflammation,
infection, or lack of sleep.
A common cause could be conjunctivitis , and might
be the very contagious "pink eye ".
Boric acid solution was an old time treatment
given by our mothers when the cause of the
irritation was not known. Today it has been
replaced by newer, safer, and effective solutions
or antibiotics chosen for the exact problem
diagnosed by the eye doctor.
Please let me remind you to never use Visine and
never share eye make-up.
Please visit the web site for new information on
'pink eye'.
Eye Conditions
Thanks for the question and for the kind words. I
have taught in the Seniors Honors Biology at St.
Petersburg Catholic High School since 1990. It is
always exciting and I wish you and your classmates
the best.
Mark A. Sibley, MD, FACS
Lasik and Refractive Specialist
Cataract and Laser Specialist
Board Certified Eye
Surgeon
727-895-2020
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