Eye Health More Eye Issues & Safety Identifying Types of Eye Mucus and their Causes By Troy Bedinghaus, OD Updated on September 13, 2024 Medically reviewed by Bryan M. Wolynski, OD Fact checked by Nick Blackmer Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Watery Mucus Thick Green or Gray Mucus Yellow Mucus White or Yellow Balls of Mucus Thick, Crusty Mucus Stringy, White Mucus , ---\ Eye discharge tends to build up when you are asleep, with eye mucus in the corners of your eyes. It can also form during your waking hours, especially if you have a condition affecting your eye. Also called eye goop, eye boogers, or eye gunk, it can sometimes be caused by allergies, infections, or other health conditions. Eye discharge consists of different substances made by the body, like oils and dead skin cells. Sometimes, you can remove eye discharge by rubbing your finger in the corner of your eye. Other times, your eyelids may seem glued shut by the gunk stuck to your lashes. You may need to see a healthcare provider for treatment. Illustration by Emily Roberts for Verywell Health Watery Mucus One type of eye discharge is a watery tear that’s mixed with a small amount of mucus. It’s often caused by a virus. Viral conjunctivitis can be a symptom of upper respiratory infection, and it leads to: Swollen eyelidsBlurred visionRednessA feeling that something is stuck in your eye This type of conjunctivitis, referred to as “pink eye,” can be highly contagious. It is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, a membrane that lines the inside of the eyelid and covers the white part of the eye. There are several types of conjunctivitis, so accurate diagnosis is important. The infection will take its course, usually resolving on its own. In the meantime, your healthcare provider might recommend that you take over-the-counter pain medication to ease the discomfort. You also may need to stop wearing contact lenses until the infection clears. Pink Eye Prevention To prevent pink eye, always avoid sharing cosmetics or anything else applied to the eye. Be vigilant about hand washing to avoid spreading the infection to your other eye or to other people. Don’t share towels, and wash towels, sheets, or clothes that may have come into contact with your hands or face. Thick Green or Gray Mucus A thick green or gray mucus eye discharge could be something serious. It may mean that you have an eye infection caused by bacteria. A pus-producing (pyogenic) bacteria that causes conjunctivitis can cause your eyelids to stick shut when you wake in the morning. Other symptoms include eye redness and irritation. See your healthcare provider if you suspect bacterial conjunctivitis. They may prescribe antibiotic eye drops to get rid of the infection. Types of Conjunctivitis The different types of conjunctivitis include viral conjunctivitis, bacterial conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and conjunctivitis due to eye irritants. The name of each is derived from its cause; for example, allergic conjunctivitis can occur as a result of an allergic reaction. Yellow Mucus Eye discharge that’s a yellow mucus along with a small lump or nodule on your eyelid could be a stye. Eyelid glands sometimes get clogged and infected and leak mucus. It's important to have an accurate diagnosis of the cause. If you do have a stye, your eye may also feel bruised and sensitive to light. You may notice a reddish bump on your eyelid, or you may develop a stye inside your eyelid (internal hordeolum). Pus will build up in the center of the stye, causing a yellowish spot that looks like a pimple. You might be tempted to squeeze the trapped mucus out like a pimple. This is not recommended, as it could cause the stye to get infected. A warm compress on your eye can relieve symptoms. White or Yellow Balls of Mucus Eye discharge that looks like white or yellow mucus balls in watery tears is a common sign of dacryocystitis—an infection in the tear drainage system (the nasolacrimal sac). With dacryocystitis, you may feel facial pain or have redness and swelling between your nose and eyelid. You may also notice eye discharge coming out of the puncta, a small drainage hole in the eyelid. This condition can become serious if not treated promptly with antibiotics, so see your healthcare provider if you notice this type of eye discharge. Thick, Crusty Mucus An eye discharge that’s a thick, crusty mucus on your eyelids and eyelashes may be due to blepharitis. Blepharitis is sometimes caused by bacteria found on your skin. The bacteria may grow and infect the eyelids and eyelashes, causing redness and inflammation. The eyelids may also thicken and form dandruff-like scales on the lids and lashes. Blepharitis is often treated by applying warm compresses followed by eyelid scrubs. A simple way to do an eyelid scrub is to close your eye and gently scrub your eyelid with a warm washcloth in a back-and-forth motion. You can try using baby shampoo, as it won’t sting your eyes. Stringy, White Mucus A type of eye discharge that’s a stringy, white mucus is usually a sign of allergic conjunctivitis (eye allergies). As part of your body’s allergic response, glands in your eye may produce material that sticks together, collecting inside of your eye or under the lower eyelid. Your healthcare provider might recommend using over-the-counter artificial tears several times a day. Artificial tears lubricate your eye and help to suppress the immune response that causes stringy eye mucus. If eye allergies become severe, your healthcare provider may need to prescribe antihistamine eye drops or oral medications. Small, Dry Particles of Mucus If you notice an eye discharge when you first wake up—usually small, dry particles of mucus in the corners of your eyes—you may have dry eyes or dry eye syndrome. Human tears are mostly composed of water, mucus, and oil. When your tears have less water, the mucus and oil stick together, dry out, and build up in the corners of your eyes in the morning. There may also be strings of mucus in your eyes. There are many treatments for dry eye, including making sure you are drinking enough water and using artificial tears in your eyes. Avoid using blow dryers on your hair and protect your eyes from wind when outdoors. You also may want to add humidity to a dry environment. How to Treat Eye Discharge If you have eye goop or mild discharge, you can try some home remedies to help clear your eyes. Some methods to try include the following: Use warm water to dampen a clean washcloth and hold it over your closed eye. Make sure to use a separate washcloth for each eye.Practice good hygiene with contact lenses, always taking them out at night. If your eyes are irritated, wear your eyeglasses instead of contact lenses.Wash off any eye makeup at night. If you think you might have an infection, stop wearing eye makeup until your eyes are clear.Use artificial tear eye drops to help add moisture to your eye.Change your pillowcases and towels frequently. Contact your healthcare provider if your eye discharge persists or gets worse. Also, contact them immediately for additional symptoms such as pain, blurriness, or double vision. Summary Eye discharge, or “gunk in your eyes,” can mean several different things. Most of the causes of watery eyes or waking up with mucus in your eyes aren’t serious. They will likely go away on their own or get better with simple home treatments. However, if you have certain types of eye discharge, like thick, green mucus, a stye with yellow mucus, or yellow drainage coming from the eyelid, have your healthcare provider check your eye. Also seek medical care if the eye discharge is persistent, bothersome, or affects your vision. 12 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. University of Utah Health. Is that morning "eye gunk" normal?. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Conjunctivitis: what is pink eye?. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How to Prevent Pink Eye. Chan VF, Yong AC, Azuara-Blanco A, et al. A systematic review of clinical practice guidelines for infectious and non-infectious conjunctivitis. 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Bedinghaus, OD, board-certified optometric physician, owns Lakewood Family Eye Care in Florida. He is an active member of the American Optometric Association. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit