What is the Differential Diagnosis of Normal Eye Crusts or Rheum?
Discussion
Sleep crusts go by lots of names including “sleepies,” “sleepers,” “eye goop,” “eye sand,” and many other names. Rheum is the medical term. Sleep crusts are common. The sandman from folklore, is said to sprinkle magical sand into people’s eyes to encourage sleep and wonderful dreams.
Crusts are composed of mucous, oil, skin cells, and dust/debris that is all a normal part of normal tear production and protection of the eye. While awake, blinking helps to clear this from the eye and move it to the nasolacrimal duct. This does not occur during sleep and therefore there can be overflow into the corners of eye or along the lashes.
Normal crusts may be:
Lighter yellow, white or clear in color
Thick or thin in consistency
May or may not stick the eyes together. If sticking together it should be easily removed and not recurring especially while awake.
Generally should not be causing redness of the skin or lids. It can cause minor skin irritation but after removal should improve relatively quickly and not recur.
Occur while asleep, not while awake
Normal crusts should not:
Cause redness of the globe or other internal eye structures
Be painful or gritty
Cause blurred vision or sensitivity to light
Be reaccumulating quickly
Have thick, globs of discharge that are “floating” across the eye
If eye crusts are the only symptom and easily removed and without reaccumulation, then this is usually normal.
Paren...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Pediatric Education Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
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