​Why does my eye squeak?

With review and feedback from CEENTA ophthalmologist Payal Patel, MD (Monroe)

Have you ever rubbed your eye and heard a squeak? For some people, this is a very common issue.

Why is my eye squeaking?

First, a little background on your eye’s structure is necessary. Tears are produced in the lacrimal glands and drain into the puncta, the tiny holes in your eyelids. Your tears drain from your puncta, through your lacrimal sac, and into your nose via the nasolacrimal duct. This is why your nose sometimes runs when you cry.

Why is this important? Well, sometimes air gets into the lacrimal sac via the nasolacrimal duct, and when you rub your eyes, the air is pushed out through the puncta. The squeak you hear is that air escaping.

Avoid rubbing your eyes

Rubbing your eyes excessively isn’t good for them, as you may hurt your cornea.

“Many people are struggling with symptoms of achiness, foreign body sensation, red eyes, watery eyes, and transient blurred vision,” CEENTA ophthalmologist Payal Patel, MD, said. “These can often be related to an underlying issue of dry eye syndrome. Dry eye is very common but also can be very uncomfortable. I recommend seeing an eye doctor if you are having one or more of these symptoms to help treat your eyes and make your day easier.”

If you have any condition that causes you to rub your eyes excessively – such as allergies or dry eye – schedule an appointment with a CEENTA doctor. They will help ensure you don’t have to rub your eyes or hear that squeak.

This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor. You can now schedule an appointment online with Dr. Patel or any of our nearly 50 eye doctors in North and South Carolina. You can also schedule through myCEENTAchart or by calling 704-295-3000.