Eye "Sleep"

[d'Anconia]

So during the last week or so I've noticed that for some reason when I wake up my eyes have a lot of that crusty material on them that some people call "sleep". It dries up and I have to scratch it off just to open my eyes sometimes when it's really bad.

It's pretty gross and I'm trying to figure out why in the hell it's been doing this lately. The only change in habits I can think of is that I've maybe been drinking alcohol more in the past week or so (time period during which I've had this problem). But I'm not sure this could be the cause because alcohol tends to dehydrate so why would the eyes secrete more of this fluid stuff? Only other thing I can think of is maybe my pillow is dirty and needs washing?

Anyone have any other ideas? I guess I'll be testing the latter possibility because I'm going back to my father's house this weekend (= different pillow).

[getfit]

maybe your room is to dry.I'm just guessing now.

[Altephor]

Are they itchy? Only time I haven't been able to open my eyes like that was due to pink eye. When I had it I had to use a warm towel on my face every morning to soften it up enough to open my eyes.

[d'Anconia]

No not itchy at all so I don't think it's pink eye.

GetFit I run an air conditioning unit in my room which fills up with about a gallon of water every day. I'm assuming this moisture is coming from the air in my room so do you think that could be the problem?

Maybe I'll get a new filter for my humidifier and start running that as well.

[Titanium_Jim]

Maybe try searching for environmental stimulation of tear ducts and narrow it down. Temperature is the only one I can think of.

[Keoni]

Do you sleep under a window? I've heard this can mess with your sinuses. Not sure about the eye sleep/crusty thing, but I get it too. Sometimes as bad as you've described, where my eyes are matted shut.

[Blanche_Soprano]

I get that all the time when my allergies are bad. I don't know if you have allergies, but it might be an evironmental allergan. It's time for spring allergies so I wouldn't be surprised.

[d'Anconia]

Hmmm I suppose it *could* be allergies but my room is pretty sealed off. Windows are all usually closed because I use an air conditioning unit. Oh well, like I said I'll learn something when I switch sleeping places.

[Blanche_Soprano]

If it is an allergy to a pollen, switching places might not help. But taking a shower before bed would help. It washes off the pollen that got on you during the day.

[Titanium_Jim]

Does the AC come on while you sleep? Do you have allergies to dust? Maybe it's time to switch the intake filter?

[d'Anconia]

I didn't even know there was an intake filter. I'll have to check the manual. Slept at my father's last night and didn't have a problem with 'sleep' though so tonight if I don't have any trouble again then I'm assuming whatever is causing it is only at my apartment.

And yes I keep the AC on while I sleep.