The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Member Map
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. Life Sciences
  3. Physiology & Medicine
  4. What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?

  • 16 Replies
  • 17209 Views
  • 0 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline neilep (OP)

  • Withdrawnmist
  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 20667
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 48 times
    • View Profile
What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?
« on: 07/09/2004 21:44:54 »
Hi Everybody,

Often , when I awake (after miraculously falling to sleep)...I sometimes have  some gritty stuff in the corners of my eyes, I think it's the tear ducts...what is it ?..and why does it appear there ?

Thanks for your eye wateringly crystal clear answers

Neily

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'
« Last Edit: 17/09/2004 17:32:15 by NakedScientist »
Logged
Men are the same as women, just inside out !
 



Offline roberth

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • 246
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?
« Reply #1 on: 08/09/2004 00:27:54 »
I reckon it's the crap that builds up in your eyes during the day. I've noticed that I have a lot less since I've been wearing glasses.
Logged
 
 

Offline Ians Daddy

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 532
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?
« Reply #2 on: 08/09/2004 00:53:13 »
My boys and I call them "eye-boogers" and I've always known them to be called that. I believe the reason is because that's exactly what they are...just like Rob said. Eye excretion mixed with the daily collected funk.

Just a thought.
Logged
 
 

Offline neilep (OP)

  • Withdrawnmist
  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 20667
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 48 times
    • View Profile
Re: What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?
« Reply #3 on: 08/09/2004 10:17:00 »
Thanks Roberth, Thanks Ronnie....now I know thanks to you guys.....I might start collecting my 'eye crust' like I do with my belly button fluff !!..err...maybe not !

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'
Logged
Men are the same as women, just inside out !
 

Offline bezoar

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 950
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?
« Reply #4 on: 15/09/2004 13:48:15 »
The grandson calls it eye trash.  I just always thought that it was dried tears, being as the tears are salty.
Logged
 
 



Offline OmnipotentOne

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • 146
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?
« Reply #5 on: 16/09/2004 20:00:26 »
Ummmm....actually however disturbing it may be your eye sheds, so that "stuff" is the remnants of your eyeball.

And I think the circular thing by your nose in the corner of your eye lid was from when you were in your mommys tummy, it use to be a clear shield to keep water out, similar like frogs have.  Vistigous? some V word.

To see a world in a grain of sand.
Logged
To see a world in a grain of sand.
 

Offline neilep (OP)

  • Withdrawnmist
  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 20667
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 48 times
    • View Profile
Re: What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?
« Reply #6 on: 16/09/2004 21:47:45 »
quote:
Originally posted by OmnipotentOne

Ummmm....actually however disturbing it may be your eye sheds, so that "stuff" is the remnants of your eyeball.

And I think the circular thing by your nose in the corner of your eye lid was from when you were in your mommys tummy, it use to be a clear shield to keep water out, similar like frogs have.  Vistigous? some V word.

To see a world in a grain of sand.



That's very interesting Omnipotent One....so, the circular thing by your nose in the corner of your eye lid is like the remnants of a secondary eye lid....cool !! Spock has one !!...(now I'm revealing what a true Trekkie saddy I am)

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'
Logged
Men are the same as women, just inside out !
 

Offline chris

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 7661
  • Activity:
    9.5%
  • Thanked: 249 times
  • The Naked Scientist
    • View Profile
    • The Naked Scientists
Re: What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?
« Reply #7 on: 17/09/2004 08:22:47 »
The gunk that accumulates in your eyes at night (often referred to as 'sleep') is a mixture of proteins (including mucus, lysozyme and antibodies), salts, cell debris, dead bugs and other foreign matter that has got into the eyes during the day.

The non-cellular components all derive from tears. When we are awake the lacrimal gland (situated above the upper outer edge of the eye) continuously secretes tears into the eye to lubricate the eyeball and to help wash out foreign bodies and infecting organisms. Blinking (which lasts a quarter of a second and which the average person does about once every 3 seconds) helps to spread tears (and the secretions of other tiny glands which line edge of the eyelids) over the eye surface.

Tears drain from the eye via 2 small 'puncta' at the edge of the eye adjacent to the nose. If you look in a mirror these resemble 2 small black dots on the eyelids. The puncta connect to the lacrimal duct which opens into the nose. That's why people sometimes suggest blowing your nose to help dislodge a foreign body in the eye because nose-blowing causes a reflux of tears back into the eye from the lacrimal sac. It also explains the urge to blow your nose when you cry.

Another benefit of tears draining into the nose is that viruses and bacteria washed out of the eyes can be 'presented' to the immune system at specialised sites in the back of the nose (the adenoids) and throat (the tonsils). It's also more convenient than having tears streaming down your face all day !

But when we go to sleep, gravity and blinking are removed from the equation, so tears drain less efficiently. Tear production also slows down. These factors encourage components of the tear film to glue together forming the crusty deposits you have to rub away when you first wake up, 'bleary eyed'.

C

"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception"
 - Groucho Marx
Logged
I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception - Groucho Marx - https://www.thenakedscientists.com/
 

Offline neilep (OP)

  • Withdrawnmist
  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 20667
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 48 times
    • View Profile
Re: What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?
« Reply #8 on: 17/09/2004 21:45:06 »
WOW !!..nice one Chris !!..of course, I knew that all along[;)]...but one encouraging thing for me then is that when I have 'eye grit, it's probably because I've had some sleep....yippee !!!..thanks for the incisive answer.

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'
Logged
Men are the same as women, just inside out !
 



Offline hames4u

  • First timers
  • *
  • 1
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?
« Reply #9 on: 19/09/2004 07:26:13 »
hi,
the gritty stuff which colleted at ur corner of ur eyes basically the dust and the soots wchich goes in ur eyes at the previous day means at previous evening, and as u know the eyes continuously moves for the short while at every 2 hrs at night, and the peculiar motion and the secretion of the lacrimal deposit over that material. so feel the gritting sensation at the corner of ur eyes.
and also the fact is the lacrimal secretion flow frm outside corner to inside corner of ur eys, u mostly get this sensation at the inner corner ur eyes.
Logged
 
 

Offline sprite190582

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • 64
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?
« Reply #10 on: 20/09/2004 09:42:12 »
I always thought it was fairy dust left over from when the fairy’s come and put you to sleep at night! (giggle…..giggle)

Alex
Logged
Alex
 

Offline neilep (OP)

  • Withdrawnmist
  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 20667
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 48 times
    • View Profile
Re: What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?
« Reply #11 on: 20/09/2004 12:14:16 »
You mean it's NOT fairy dust ?..(whimper..shattered dreams mode !!)

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'
Logged
Men are the same as women, just inside out !
 

Offline betsie

  • First timers
  • *
  • 3
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?
« Reply #12 on: 24/09/2004 21:17:30 »
I always new it as "Sleepy Dust". But hey thats the child in me!
Logged
 
 



Offline bezoar

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 950
  • Activity:
    0%
    • View Profile
Re: What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?
« Reply #13 on: 08/10/2004 01:26:06 »
What about the sand man?
Logged
 
 

Offline Monox D. I-Fly

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • 360
  • Activity:
    4.5%
  • Thanked: 5 times
    • View Profile
Re: What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?
« Reply #14 on: 03/10/2018 04:46:06 »
Wow... My native language (Javanese) has a word for those: blobok. Is cataract also formed by that thing?
Logged
 

Offline Janus

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 627
  • Activity:
    6%
  • Thanked: 159 times
    • View Profile
Re: What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?
« Reply #15 on: 03/10/2018 06:21:27 »
Quote from: Monox D. I-Fly on 03/10/2018 04:46:06
Wow... My native language (Javanese) has a word for those: blobok. Is cataract also formed by that thing?
Growing up my mom called it "rapka" (sp?).   I'm not sure if that was a proper Finnish word or Finglish.
Logged
 

Offline Karen W.

  • Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • *****
  • 31752
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 22 times
  • "come fly with me"
    • View Profile
Re: What is the gritty stuff in your eyes on waking ?
« Reply #16 on: 28/10/2018 12:08:08 »
Neil, great question!
Chris seriously great explanation!
 Bezoar...Im with you I was quite sure it was the sandman doing his dream dancing on my eyes...lol....Sand from Sleepyland Sandman.... hee hee hee
Logged

"Life is not measured by the number of Breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
 



  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Tags:
 

Similar topics (5)

My eyes keep getting worse and worse!! Why??

Started by SeanyBoard General Science

Replies: 13
Views: 12036
Last post 05/07/2007 22:54:52
by Seany
Why do our faces look tired and our eyes hurt, when we're tired??

Started by _Stefan_Board Physiology & Medicine

Replies: 14
Views: 14089
Last post 28/05/2007 20:16:29
by Karen W.
Why do people with brown hair have brown eyes?

Started by Dana LippstreuBoard Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution

Replies: 5
Views: 9504
Last post 19/02/2009 10:30:11
by lyner
What's The "Noise" You Can See When You Close Your Eyes ?

Started by neilepBoard Physiology & Medicine

Replies: 8
Views: 7367
Last post 21/09/2012 12:55:51
by RD
Do our eyes focus on an object's reflection in a mirror, or the mirror itself?

Started by katieHaylorBoard General Science

Replies: 3
Views: 2914
Last post 31/07/2017 19:51:16
by chiralSPO
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
  • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
    Privacy Policy
    SMFAds for Free Forums
  • Naked Science Forum ©

Page created in 0.208 seconds with 83 queries.

  • Podcasts
  • Articles
  • Get Naked
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe to newsletter
  • We love feedback

Follow us

cambridge_logo_footer.png

©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.